turmacar's recent activity
-
Comment on Utah legislature sends bill banning water fluoridation to governor for signature or veto in ~society
-
Comment on What works do you think should be added to the literary canon? in ~books
turmacar Link ParentI definitely think the 90s were a high point. Maybe the LOTR movies coming out were some kind of "okay those are mainstream now lets do other stuff" signal to publishers or something. Though yea...I definitely think the 90s were a high point. Maybe the LOTR movies coming out were some kind of "okay those are mainstream now lets do other stuff" signal to publishers or something. Though yea like you say there's always been alternatives even if they're harder to find.
I do really appreciate that all the more mainstream current fantasy authors like Sanderson mainly work in stories that are less Tolkien inspired. Even the ones that have Elves and Dark Lords try to do something interesting like setting it in modern times or drawing from other mythologies.
-
Comment on What works do you think should be added to the literary canon? in ~books
turmacar Link ParentIf nothing else the general attitude of reading them to 'appreciate them' instead of 'enjoying them' is a point in their favor for canonization. Similar to Citizen Kane. I wouldn't say fantasy...If nothing else the general attitude of reading them to 'appreciate them' instead of 'enjoying them' is a point in their favor for canonization. Similar to Citizen Kane.
I wouldn't say fantasy authors are ripping off Tolkein any more than FPS games are 'Doom clones'. I really like Terry Pratchett's take:
“J.R.R. Tolkien has become a sort of mountain, appearing in all subsequent fantasy in the way that Mt. Fuji appears so often in Japanese prints. Sometimes it’s big and up close. Sometimes it’s a shape on the horizon. Sometimes it’s not there at all, which means that the artist either has made a deliberate decision against the mountain, which is interesting in itself, or is in fact standing on Mt. Fuji.”
-
Comment on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and US influencers bash seed oils, baffling nutrition scientists in ~food
turmacar Link ParentFrankly even without debating any of whether it's 'better' for you or not I kind of wonder if McDonalds could source enough tallow and switch supply chains in the short term. IIRC they tend to...Frankly even without debating any of whether it's 'better' for you or not I kind of wonder if McDonalds could source enough tallow and switch supply chains in the short term. IIRC they tend to work on year(s) long contracts because they're such a large market force. Steak 'n Shake has a fraction of the locations.
-
Comment on The Japanese mayor who built a floodgate no one wanted — and saved his town from a massive tsunami after his death in ~enviro
turmacar LinkEvery time this story comes back up its stark how even in Japan, which is generally held up internationally as an exemplar of public investment, people balk at infrastructure built to withstand...Every time this story comes back up its stark how even in Japan, which is generally held up internationally as an exemplar of public investment, people balk at infrastructure built to withstand proven historical necessity because it's for "once/twice in a generation" events. The difference being that they went along with it in this case.
It contrasts harshly with the coverage of the hurricane flooding in Virginia last year where the immediate narrative was "unprecedented" and the later quiet articles were that actually it seems to happen every hundred years or so.
I realize that part of why this village's story is popular is because other adjacent Japanese villages didn't make similar measures. Maybe it's just reinforcement that we need more extraordinary leaders, but that's not super encouraging.
-
Comment on Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy expected to retire this year in ~movies
turmacar Link ParentI don't remember if the script leaked before or after Book of Henry, but that movie existing can't have helped either. It's just an absolute mess. I'm not a fan of Trevorrow's Jurassic World...I don't remember if the script leaked before or after Book of Henry, but that movie existing can't have helped either. It's just an absolute mess.
I'm not a fan of Trevorrow's Jurassic World movies but can at least understand how they might think he would be an up-and-coming director and try to follow the Marvel example. I'm sure he's a nice guy and charming in person or whatever but what he wants out of a story seems fundamentally broken somehow personally.
-
Comment on ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ insiders say ‘everyone knew this is probably not going to be a good film’ in ~movies
turmacar (edited )Link ParentFor Altered Carbon they chopped up and added to the first book in ways that left them in a rough position going forward and then smashed pieces of the 2nd/3rd book together with the vaguest...For Altered Carbon they chopped up and added to the first book in ways that left them in a rough position going forward and then smashed pieces of the 2nd/3rd book together with the vaguest possible cheesy revolution plotline.
Complaining that Mackie was the lead is like complaining that Malfoy or Joffery were slappable.
-
Comment on Starlink, T-Mobile open their satellite texting test to all. Here’s how it works. in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentI got in when T-Mobile's email let me know it was an option in January. It's frustratingly, if maybe understandably, limited. From the intro message it will only fallback if you have no other...I got in when T-Mobile's email let me know it was an option in January.
It's frustratingly, if maybe understandably, limited. From the intro message it will only fallback if you have no other network connections and only in designated areas in the US. I kind of get they don't want to overwhelm whatever the bandwidth they're able to squeeze out of cellphone antennas by having everyone try it at once. At the same time I'm extremely unlikely to trust an emergency service I can never test until I need it....
I'm driving through the back end of TX/NM in a few weeks and going to be watching my signal indicator like a hawk to see if it switches to "T-Mobile SpaceX" like it's supposed to. There's a few spots I know it "should". But their provided coverage map frustratingly still seems to have large gap spots which I don't understand.
As it is much more trusting of something like an InReach.
-
Comment on US Republican Party representative introduces bill to amend the 22nd Amendment, seeking to allow a third Donald Trump term in office in ~society
turmacar Link ParentThey very specifically don't. They see it as handouts and an anomaly at best. There's a reason they keep working for ending everything from government regulation/oversight to programs like...They very specifically don't. They see it as handouts and an anomaly at best. There's a reason they keep working for ending everything from government regulation/oversight to programs like medicare.
They think they way for the average person to prosper is full deregulation and basically a return the the Articles of Confederation where the federal government is mostly mechanism for diplomacy and a way of organizing the military.
-
Comment on Valve's Steam page currently lists a second mystery game alongside Deadlock, sending Half-Life 3 theorists into another frenzy of speculation in ~games
turmacar Link ParentThat patch dropping was almost as crazy as the technical achievement. Just came out awhile after the release because the dev thought they could. I think a lot of people spent awhile in game just...That patch dropping was almost as crazy as the technical achievement. Just came out awhile after the release because the dev thought they could.
I think a lot of people spent awhile in game just playing with bottles even if they'd already finished it. I know I did.
-
Comment on Valve's Steam page currently lists a second mystery game alongside Deadlock, sending Half-Life 3 theorists into another frenzy of speculation in ~games
turmacar Link ParentYes? Probably? Could just be there's less straight up hallway sections and more arena-y bits where/when there are larger numbers of enemies. They do a decent job of ducking into cover and trying...Yes? Probably? Could just be there's less straight up hallway sections and more arena-y bits where/when there are larger numbers of enemies. They do a decent job of ducking into cover and trying to flank and such. Could draw a comparison to something like Metro series' human enemies.
Like y'all were talking about with F.E.A.R. so much of it comes down to level design to highlight the areas the enemy AI works well and lessen areas where it falls down. Halo is another one that got a ton of praise for their AI at the time and it was mostly a few simple rules operating in tandem. The longer you're "out of cover" (in their sight-line) the better their "aim" (the firing cone of their gun) gets for example.
Enemy AI in gaming is mostly the art of convincing the player the computer doesn't have enough knowledge to instantly defeat them.
-
Comment on Stablecoins are non-fungible, bank deposits are fungible in ~finance
turmacar Link ParentExcept you're paying that service fee for access, convenience, and security. "Free" credit is still relatively recent, which is why there are still cards you explicitly pay to have access to the...Except you're paying that service fee for access, convenience, and security. "Free" credit is still relatively recent, which is why there are still cards you explicitly pay to have access to the better deals. Dealing purely with cash/debit it can often necessitate a small claims court filing if there are issues.
The 'rewards' are like loyalty cards at a coffee shop. They're a reason to use that card over a competitor, even if the only difference is the number of points you have.
-
Comment on Valve's Steam page currently lists a second mystery game alongside Deadlock, sending Half-Life 3 theorists into another frenzy of speculation in ~games
turmacar Link ParentNot particularly, or at least not notably moreso than any other game from 2020 compared to 2000s FPSs. Alyx's big deal was being a stunningly well implemented VR game. I like VR, but even now a...I haven't played HL Alyx to know what the AI is like there but I have to imagine it's a big step up from HL2, right?
Not particularly, or at least not notably moreso than any other game from 2020 compared to 2000s FPSs.
Alyx's big deal was being a stunningly well implemented VR game. I like VR, but even now a majority of games feel more like tech demos than anything. Alyx was at least on par with the HL Episodes and did a great job feeling smooth with movement options and fidelity of the world.
Half Life as a driver/indicator of progress is one of the more interesting things Valve has always said they were using the series for and I really don't know what kind of sea change they'd be aiming for with HL3, which I think has been a lot of the problem. HL1 was pushing stories in games and cohesive level design, HL2 was pushing physics engines and larger narratives, HL episodes were pushing distribution models, and Alyx was pushing VR. I would like a continuation/finale to the Half Life story but don't know what they could be doing from an innovation side.
-
Comment on US introduces additional export restrictions on AI-chips in ~tech
turmacar LinkHow does that even work if most of those chips aren't produced in the US? Designs can't be sent to the chip factories in Taiwan/Korea?How does that even work if most of those chips aren't produced in the US? Designs can't be sent to the chip factories in Taiwan/Korea?
-
Comment on This could be the beginning of the end for fire insurance in California in ~finance
turmacar Link ParentWe've had a solid few decades of "let insurance handle it" instead of investing in infrastructure or painful longer term solutions. For better or worse it seems like we're hitting the crux point...We've had a solid few decades of "let insurance handle it" instead of investing in infrastructure or painful longer term solutions. For better or worse it seems like we're hitting the crux point where that's no longer viable.
-
Comment on What hard scifi books could you recommend? in ~books
turmacar LinkChildren of Time and it's sequels are fun, dealing with the (millennia) long term fallout of Earth 'nuking' itself back to the stone age right as the first terraforming projects are about to be...Children of Time and it's sequels are fun, dealing with the (millennia) long term fallout of Earth 'nuking' itself back to the stone age right as the first terraforming projects are about to be completed. Setting up humans on generation ships that have had to bootstrap their tech from the ruins interacting with remnants humans left in space.
The Lost Fleet series are definitely more "B-movie" sci-fi, at least plot wise, but I appreciate the amount of thought put into "fleet battles when you have to account for speed-of-light delay are really hard".
-
Comment on What hard scifi books could you recommend? in ~books
turmacar Link ParentI do think those Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained are the best of them, and they 'end nicely' instead of being super open-ended or a cliffhanger, but if you're not aware he's written a couple...I do think those Pandora's Star and Judas Unchained are the best of them, and they 'end nicely' instead of being super open-ended or a cliffhanger, but if you're not aware he's written a couple sequel series in the Commonwealth. The Void trilogy had some interesting stuff going on with the development of the world, the ones after that I haven't read yet.
I think he does a great job bringing the Opera back to Space Opera but understand the criticism that the cast is large enough that it can take awhile to circle back to what a given character is doing.
-
Comment on Honey did nothing wrong in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentThe cherry on top is that they do so even if they don't find a discount, they just blanket take credit/revenue regardless of if Honey interacts with your purchase at all.The cherry on top is that they do so even if they don't find a discount, they just blanket take credit/revenue regardless of if Honey interacts with your purchase at all.
-
Comment on The average American spent 2.5 months on their phone in 2024 in ~tech
turmacar Link ParentAll those things are true. I just distrust blanket statements from raw number stats. I spent at least 24 hours of my 4 day Christmas trip to relatives using my phone. 16 hours using GPS to/from...All those things are true. I just distrust blanket statements from raw number stats.
I spent at least 24 hours of my 4 day Christmas trip to relatives using my phone. 16 hours using GPS to/from their house in another state, ~6 hours of audiobook walking my dog. I think it would be silly to add sleep tracking to that, but that would easily add ~30 hours of 'use'. None of which includes the time I spent scrolling the internet during the football game or any other bad use of my phone.
If you want to track bad eating habits but do so by tracking "time in restaurants", without distinguishing between visiting with friends at a sushi restaurant or someone spending time alone gorging themselves at an all you can eat buffet, it's a bad stat. Regardless that higher is 'probably' worse.
-
Comment on The average American spent 2.5 months on their phone in 2024 in ~tech
turmacar LinkAll of these stats rub me the wrong way because they basically ignore quality in favor of quantity. Granted, because quality of time is dramatically harder to measure. If you assume 2.5 months per...All of these stats rub me the wrong way because they basically ignore quality in favor of quantity. Granted, because quality of time is dramatically harder to measure. If you assume 2.5 months per year is spent blearily swiping through Facebook/TikTok/etc., yeah that's not great, but most people aren't doing that.
Like Wolf_359 says people are still people, and instead of going to the corner pub or holding a ball they're socializing remotely while doing other things or with a different social group. I'd bet there's a difference between checking a message notification within 10 minutes and most other notifications, but that's probably not as dramatic a graph.
People check their phone within 10 minutes of waking up? It's my alarm clock, and then during the morning routine it's music/news/personal updates. That I'm not waiting to sit down with a Victrola/newspaper/checkbook/journal but doing it while I'm showering and making breakfast frankly seems an inane distinction. The version from a few decades ago might be that the new generation is crazy because they just tune the radio to something in the background instead of siting down to appreciate music.
That the younger generation is more anxious about losing the device that controls access a significant portion of their lives also isn't surprising. If my phone is missing I can't do 2FA for work, which is a huge hassle. It's all the problems of losing your wallet and your journal and your remote secure identification and the fastest way to communicate to fix those problems. If you're retired some of that isn't an issue, and you probably use the device for far less.
Possibly the most infuriating part of this is how weaponized "lower IQ" has become because it sounds like a reasoned scientific argument.
The original study talked about differences, over the population of countries, of single digit IQ points. Which is less than the variation of the same person taking the test multiple times. It's basically a textbook example of looking at the noise in the data and deciding, because you already have a pet issue, saying "this is the evidence I want".
And it's being used to remove one of the best documented, lowest cost, most effective large scale public health measures of the 20th century. Because it will not impact people with parents who can afford dental care and/or have the education to value it.