Wes's recent activity
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Comment on Have you ever witnessed the Butterfly Effect? in ~life
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Comment on Have you ever witnessed the Butterfly Effect? in ~life
Wes Link ParentI'm very curious. Do you mind sharing which country/region you took the trip to? I'm always interested in knowing where there's great food and feels.I'm very curious. Do you mind sharing which country/region you took the trip to? I'm always interested in knowing where there's great food and feels.
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Comment on What are your personal reading "rules?" in ~books
Wes LinkI read entirely by feel. Not braille - but in choosing my next book. If I've not read scifi in a while, I start getting an itch to read about other worlds and new species. If I've been reading too...I read entirely by feel. Not braille - but in choosing my next book. If I've not read scifi in a while, I start getting an itch to read about other worlds and new species. If I've been reading too much "light" content, I start to crave something more intellectual, to make me think. I try to keep enough books available that I always have something that fits my mood when starting something new.
Usually if I'm reading a series, I'll stick with it. I tend to be very forgetful, and need that continuity to hold onto the deeper stories. For that reason I often hold off on starting series until they're already completed, or nearing completion. For example, as much as I know I'll enjoy James S. A. Corey's new The Mercy of Gods, I'm holding off for at least a few more years before I jump into it.
I typically read just one book at a time, though currently I have a short story collection (Dangerous Women) I've been slowly working through. I will sometimes dip into it when I need a small breather from other reading, and when I'm not ready for something larger yet. I might carry this pattern forward into the future and choose another short story collection for brief respites.
I generally prefer audio over text when it's available. I read at night, and it allows me to close my eyes and start drifting off to sleep. Sometimes this means I don't make much progress. Other days, if I can't sleep, I might get through two weeks of reading in one burst. So my rate is very inconsistent.
I find that with audiobooks, the narrator is very important. I've begun to develop favourites and least-favourites. In some cases, I've even slotted them into theme. For example, George Guidall with his gravelly voice was a perfect fit for the dusty gunslinger in The Dark Tower. However, it did not work so well in The Left Hand of Darkness, which explores gender norms and their role in society.
I don't often re-read books, though I would like to. There's some titles I loved the first time through and I'd like to experience again. However, there's so much left to read, I guess I feel a bit guilty about "wasting" my reading time. Perhaps I should give it a go, and see if it really does feel wasted.
I use Goodreads to track books I've read, and those I'm interested in. I don't leave ratings, post updates, or use any of the social features, really. It's just a database for me that somebody else has to curate. I've added a couple people as friends on the site though, and I've realized that doing so has made me feel slightly judged in my reading choices. I don't think I've changed my patterns in response, but it is interesting to me!
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Comment on Chromecast alternatives in ~tech
Wes LinkThree questions first: Are you using the Chromecast primarily as a device to connect to third-party services like Netflix, Hulu, etc? Are you planning to use the Google Cast protocol, for...Three questions first:
- Are you using the Chromecast primarily as a device to connect to third-party services like Netflix, Hulu, etc?
- Are you planning to use the Google Cast protocol, for streaming video from other devices in the house (eg. casting a YouTube video)?
- Are you interested in self-hosting video, as with a Plex server or similar?
Setting up a local media server takes a lot more tinkering than just buying an Nvidia Shield, for example. It's best to first understand your needs before making a direct recommendation.
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Comment on Show Tildes: we built the world's first legal AI API in ~tech
Wes LinkI was wondering if we'd see an update on your earlier concept work. Interesting to see you've decided to form a company for this work. It's not of any particular use to me, but I'm sure...I was wondering if we'd see an update on your earlier concept work. Interesting to see you've decided to form a company for this work. It's not of any particular use to me, but I'm sure lawyer-types will be curious to try it.
For a product, it does seem to be very technical still. Requiring prompts via API/command line, and even using a DSL. I suspect a frontend UI - be it web-based or otherwise - would really make things more accessible for non-programmers. Maybe with a micro-LLM for converting English prompts to your DSL. Is that on the roadmap? Making an API first will surely make that kind of interface a lot easier to build, though.
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Comment on Repeatedly upvoting violent content on Reddit can now get you flagged in ~tech
Wes Link ParentPerhaps the violent content is reported and then reviewed after it's been up for a while. I thought that reddit already had a rule to this effect about upvoting violent content, but apparently...Perhaps the violent content is reported and then reviewed after it's been up for a while.
I thought that reddit already had a rule to this effect about upvoting violent content, but apparently that was only true in quarantined communities previously. They're now expanding it to the rest of the site.
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Comment on Humble Choice - March 2025 in ~games
Wes LinkContrary to everyone else (apparently), I think this is an excellent bundle. One of the best I've seen all year. Wild Hearts was a game I wasn't willing to pay for, due to its performance...Contrary to everyone else (apparently), I think this is an excellent bundle. One of the best I've seen all year.
Wild Hearts was a game I wasn't willing to pay for, due to its performance concerns, but I was still very interested in playing. I think I'll enjoy it a lot if my PC can handle it. If not, maybe after one more PC upgrade, but at least now I can try it without needing to "take a chance" on it.
I enjoyed the demo for Pacific Drive at Steam Next Fest, and I'm pleased to see it includes DLC. That's not very common in Humbundles these days.
Cavern of Dreams looks super cute, and I have a soft spot for retro 3D platformers. This one is well-reviewed, too.
I was unaware of Kenzera, but I've basically enjoyed every metroidvania I've played. No complaints about adding more to the pile.
Regarding the launchers, I'm actually glad for the Origin keys. I really regretted when I bought RDR2 on EGS, because it required two launchers just to play the game, and it took forever to actually start the game. Now I try to buy games on the "native platform" whenever possible. I prefer EA games on Origin, Ubisoft games on Uplay, and even Epic games on EGS. Happy to skip the extra DRM!
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - February 2025 - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah in ~books
Wes Link ParentI'm not a big autobiography reader, but I did really enjoy this one. I listened to nearly the entire audiobook in a single sitting. Jennette narrates it wonderfully. I definitely got a much...I'm not a big autobiography reader, but I did really enjoy this one. I listened to nearly the entire audiobook in a single sitting. Jennette narrates it wonderfully.
I definitely got a much stronger sense of what it feels like to deal directly with narcissism, and to see the easy manipulation that comes naturally to some people. By the end, I was under the impression that the disfunction was generational. There was lots to touch on regarding early stardom and Mormonism, as well. Great read.
Bit of a warning that the book does deal closely with eating disorders, and may be difficult for those sensitive to that issue. Even as a skinny guy, I found the descriptions of bulimia somewhat disturbing.
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Comment on Godot 4.4 release candidate 3 — "We are almost ready to release Godot 4.4 officially!" in ~comp
Wes LinkJolt Physics is also coming as an official feature in 4.4, which is very exciting. This is the same physics engine that was written for Horizon Forbidden West, then ported to Godot via an addon....Jolt Physics is also coming as an official feature in 4.4, which is very exciting. This is the same physics engine that was written for Horizon Forbidden West, then ported to Godot via an addon. It'll first be included in Godot as an experimental toggle, and may later become the official engine, replacing the inhouse Godot Physics.
In all the comparisons I've seen, Jolt is much faster, generally more predictable, and produces more realistic interactions. There's a couple features yet missing for one-to-one parity, but it should be a viable option for most games out there.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club - February 2025 - Born a Crime by Trevor Noah in ~books
Wes LinkI found this autobiography to be witty, insightful, and very illuminating, as somebody completely unfamiliar with South Africa's history. It frequently shifts between hilarity and heartbreak,...- Exemplary
I found this autobiography to be witty, insightful, and very illuminating, as somebody completely unfamiliar with South Africa's history. It frequently shifts between hilarity and heartbreak, often without missing a beat.
The opening sets the stage by talking about apartheid, and just how bad the situation was. I mentioned this briefly before, but I didn't previously realize just how orchestrated apartheid was. That this system was researched and then field tested is somehow very distressing to me, because it's not just an example of people looking the other way at inequality, but actually engineering it. The only word that comes to mind is "evil". I've always held that true evil is quite rare in our world, but I can think of no other descriptor here.
Apartheid ended during Trevor's youth, and it was interesting to learn the consequences of that. That it wasn't an overnight thing, but a slow restoration of rights and freedoms. We don't learn as many details here, since this section is largely through the eyes of a child, but there's still much to pick up in subtext. Social divisions continue to exist, be it through gatherings at church, school, or even a holding cell. Language, a useful tool for bringing us together, can also be used to separate and ostracize.
Trevor spoke much of his mother, who I had much respect for by the end. She was shrewd, fearless, and indomitable. While initially feeling some animosity towards her for her physical abuse, I eventually came to understand. This isn't my world, and my values don't work here. That doesn't mean I condone her actions, but I came to understand them, and the greater context they exist in.
I was especially taken by the paragraph of Trevor's grandmother explaining why she was afraid to beat him. Trevor's lighter skin would bruise, changing colour to yellow, blue, and red. Other children's welts were less visible. It's such a simple yet illustrative example of white privilege that I would never have thought of.
From the beginning, Trevor comes off as a precocious youth. It's an autobiography, so perhaps the writing is embellished in places, or compiled from half-remembered moments or stories from family, but I still found it believable. Much I think can be credited to his mother for raising him to be independent and fearless, and for nurturing his body and mind. His parents' strong beliefs about race shaped his own understanding, and allowed him to later live in both white and black worlds, as need demanded. As he put it, to be a chameleon, but using language as a tool to blend in. I wonder how many mixed-race children were not afforded such an upbringing, and could never integrate in the same way.
The book features many anecdotes. It speaks of the joys of shitting on the floor, of learning to tuck and roll when promptly exiting a minibus, and why it's probably not a good idea to chant "Go Hitler!" inside a Jewish school. It shows the dangers of masculine pride, and the near-fatal consequences of the police not taking women seriously. It proves that a son born out of defiance can be both a crime and an act of love, binding parent and child together against the world.
Born a Crime discusses both the larger impacts of apartheid, and of the individuals affected by these greater social currents. For that reason, I think this book was a great first pick from our minority and disadvantaged perspective book list. It was also our first autobiography. I enjoyed it a lot, and I'll be curious to see what others thought of this one.
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Comment on Murdoch family US legal fight over trust could change the future direction of Fox News (gifted link) in ~finance
Wes LinkWow, really interesting article. It's a little scary to see poker played at such a high level, where the winner might decide the fate of nations. Great share.Wow, really interesting article. It's a little scary to see poker played at such a high level, where the winner might decide the fate of nations. Great share.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Spring and Summer schedule 2025 in ~books
Wes Link ParentI hope not! I'm listening to it via audiobook, which is narrated by the author. I'm actually appreciating his native pronunciations of many of the African languages, though, which I'm sure I'd...Would you be able to say if there are any elements to it that might be viewed better on a color-capable device, like photographs?
I hope not! I'm listening to it via audiobook, which is narrated by the author. I'm actually appreciating his native pronunciations of many of the African languages, though, which I'm sure I'd have struggled to read.
There hasn't been any indications of there being photographs or other media which would require colour. I think your regular e-ink device should work just fine.
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Comment on Tildes Book Club Spring and Summer schedule 2025 in ~books
Wes LinkHow's everybody doing with Trevor Noah's Born a Crime so far? I started it last night, and I'm already blown away by the realness and brutality that he describes. It's given me some perspective on...How's everybody doing with Trevor Noah's Born a Crime so far? I started it last night, and I'm already blown away by the realness and brutality that he describes. It's given me some perspective on my "first world problems" that suddenly don't seem so significant.
It's also given me a much stronger understanding of apartheid, which I only really understood in the simplest of terms before. I didn't appreciate just how orchestrated its creation was.
I'll save most of my thoughts for the discussion topic proper, but I just thought I'd drop this as a reminder that it'll take place sometime next week.
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Comment on Peeves, opinions, and hot takes about style in ~humanities.languages
Wes LinkI certainly don't read enough papers or manuscripts to have strong opinions on most of these issues. For #5 specifically though, I have a strong preference for punctuation outside of quotations....I certainly don't read enough papers or manuscripts to have strong opinions on most of these issues. For #5 specifically though, I have a strong preference for punctuation outside of quotations. It probably stems from my experience as a programmer, where a string of text is very precise (this is exactly what I'm quoting). The American-style of placing punctuation inside feels like it's modifying the quote, and the sentence then feels improperly terminated. But I'm sure it's just a matter of familiarity.
I'm also one of the dozen people that still enters two spaces between sentences in all writing. My 30 years of muscle memory cannot be defeated by any measly style guidelines in Microsoft Word. I can and will wear out my space bar, and nobody can stop me. Except for 99% of writing on the web, where the extra spaces are silently collapsed into one anyway. But it's a fun surprise for those clicking More > View Markdown underneath my comment, at least.
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Comment on Grammar errors that actually matter, or: the thread where we all become prescriptivists in ~humanities.languages
Wes LinkI try to be less of a prescriptivist (read: grammar nazi) than when I was younger, but there are still certain phrases that I find disagreeable today. A part and apart have nearly-opposite...I try to be less of a prescriptivist (read: grammar nazi) than when I was younger, but there are still certain phrases that I find disagreeable today.
- A part and apart have nearly-opposite meanings, and it really throws me off when people mix them up.
- Bi-weekly is frustrating because it should mean every two weeks. Semi-weekly means twice a week. However, some have begun mixing these up, which can be terrible for scheduling.
- I try to avoid the word nonplussed because the meaning varies by region (and sometimes by person).
- Typing out Here, here instead of Hear, hear just looks plain wrong to my eyes. It's somehow like coming across a giant digital stop sign.
I'll skip the ones you covered, but I do agree the loss of literally was unfortunate. It was a very useful term that isn't adequately replaced by words like "actually" or "truly".
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Comment on Seeking suggestions for Windows virtual desktop (for Photoshop schoolwork) in ~comp
Wes Link ParentIf you have an integrated GPU in your CPU, that would also work for the host machine. Though I wonder also if Wine would be adequate enough in this case, without the need for a VM at all.If you have an integrated GPU in your CPU, that would also work for the host machine. Though I wonder also if Wine would be adequate enough in this case, without the need for a VM at all.
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Comment on [SOLVED] What's the scifi book? in ~books
Wes Link ParentRunning the description through a few LLMs, another common suggestion is The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer.Running the description through a few LLMs, another common suggestion is The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer.
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Comment on Do you deliberately overbuy things with the intention to return some of them? in ~life
Wes LinkI don't do it. I feel guilty about returns, because I know it essentially destroys value for the storefront (rarely can such items be sold as "new" again). It also seems like a system that when...I don't do it. I feel guilty about returns, because I know it essentially destroys value for the storefront (rarely can such items be sold as "new" again). It also seems like a system that when abused, will create more scrutiny on consumers and make it harder to process legitimate returns.
I have returned items when I've been dissatisfied with their quality (eg. a collectable book that was dented), or clothes that truly don't fit well. But I make every effort to not do so, and to research something well enough to make sure it's the right item before I buy it.
Sometimes though, it's just out of your hands. For example, I ordered six jars of salsa a few years ago. Huge fan of Mrs. Renfro's! Unfortunately, two jars were smashed during shipment. It made a real mess. That's ghost pepper salsa - this was a biohazard containment moment.
Thankfully, Amazon offered to replace the order, though I just asked for a refund for the two jars that were broken. The rest I could clean off with some soap and water, and they were still perfectly usable. I don't know if that makes me a "sucker", but it just seemed more fair to me.
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Comment on San Francisco unveils marble bust of Aaron Swartz, hero of open-access internet in ~tech
Wes Link ParentI suppose I can appreciate that perspective. I understand that saying "reddit cofounder" is recognizable and an easy reference for people. I guess I just feel a bit frustrated that whenever I read...I suppose I can appreciate that perspective. I understand that saying "reddit cofounder" is recognizable and an easy reference for people. I guess I just feel a bit frustrated that whenever I read about Aaron, reddit is the first and usually only thing that is mentioned. It would at least be correct to say he cofounded Not a Bug, though I doubt many know the name anymore.
It feels to me like a bit of a disservice to remember him for a time when he was so unhappy. He took part in the second or third rewrite of the site, from Lisp to Python as I recall, before growing disillusioned with the work. It doesn't seem like something he was ever passionate about. I'd much rather he be remembered for his work on RSS, for the causes he championed, and for the idealism he held.
But I can't really know the details with any certainty, so I won't argue the point too strongly. Moreover, I also recognize that I may be imparting my own bias as somebody who is uncomfortable with the concepts of memorializing and honours. I would never want a bust of myself, and even having a gravesite would be a turn off for me. So in truth I can't really know how Aaron would feel about any of this. At least they got his family's signoff first.
At the very least, I'm glad to see his efforts recognized in some form, even if it's not what I would consider ideal. I hope it can help inspire positive change in more direct ways. Both for the greater liberation of information, and for curtailing the harassment of individuals by government prosecutors.
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Comment on San Francisco unveils marble bust of Aaron Swartz, hero of open-access internet in ~tech
Wes LinkI like Aaron. I'm not sure if Aaron would like this. Having a bust and a memecoin in your name feels... more like a spectacle than something meaningful. I suspect Aaron would've preferred that...I like Aaron. I'm not sure if Aaron would like this. Having a bust and a memecoin in your name feels... more like a spectacle than something meaningful.
I suspect Aaron would've preferred that money going towards efforts to outlaw data silos, to standardizing data import/export formats, to ensure protections for unlocking and rooting devices, for carving out DMCA triennial exceptions, for building distributed protocols, and other efforts that allow people to own, distribute, and syndicate their own data.
Swartz, who co-founded Reddit...
Also, just once, I wish writers would get this right. He was granted the title of cofounder by Paul Graham after the merger. He didn't actually cofound reddit. He didn't even want to be at reddit, as evidenced by his later blog posts. It feels so tacky when people write bios based on a quick read of Wikipedia.
Haha, that's great! Thanks for the update, and I'm glad that you're both excited by it!
I wish we had a stronger street food culture here in the West. I don't know how they do it, but somehow just cooking or eating outside seems to unlock flavours that I never thought possible.