widedub's recent activity
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
-
Comment on Git at any scale in ~comp
widedub Link ParentNot trying to be reductive but this is largely where I landed as well. I enjoyed reading about the challenges of running git at scale and how GitHub engineered around them. I liked hearing about...Not trying to be reductive but this is largely where I landed as well. I enjoyed reading about the challenges of running git at scale and how GitHub engineered around them. I liked hearing about how cursor has tried to increment on the pitfalls of 3pc/spokes and engineer a better system. But entrust Elon with my code, both enterprise and personal? No thanks. I'm sure someone will point out how silly that is when MS is the next best option but I'd rather move away from these services and try something like Gitea
-
Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
widedub LinkI finally made it to the top of the wait list to borrow Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro from my local library. I've only just finished part 1 where Part 1 spoilers Klara is chosen by Josie and...I finally made it to the top of the wait list to borrow Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro from my local library. I've only just finished part 1 where
I am intrigued so far. This is my introduction to Ishiguro. I've heard that Klara is perhaps not the best introduction to him as an author but I'm hoping to finish it at least once before the move comes out in OctoberPart 1 spoilers
Klara is chosen by Josie and purchased by her motherJust before this, I read The Mouse that Roared by Leonard Wimberley. It was an easy read and I very much enjoyed it. I did not love the ending where
but it did not really detract from my enjoyment of the book. I'm interested in the Peter Sellers film based off this book and am hoping to check it out some timeFinal act of TMTR spoiler
The Q-Bomb was revealed to be a dud. I liked the ambiguity and I don't think the book would have suffered without the final scene -
Comment on Klara and the Sun | Official trailer in ~movies
widedub LinkI know virtually nothing about this story but I'm in line for this book from my local library after a trusted recommendation. I had heard this film had been shelved and am excited to see that it...I know virtually nothing about this story but I'm in line for this book from my local library after a trusted recommendation. I had heard this film had been shelved and am excited to see that it is actually going to be released. Hoping I'll get get a chance to read the book before October
-
Comment on Tildes Survey #10: How often do you visit/read Tildes? (Results) in ~talk
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
widedub (edited )Link ParentThe studio, Ivy Road, was a collab featuring a few "big" names Davey C418 (Minecraft soundtrack) Karla Zimonja (Gone Home) and funded by Annapurna. Sadly, Wanderstop didn't sell as well as was...The studio, Ivy Road, was a collab featuring a few "big" names
- Davey
- C418 (Minecraft soundtrack)
- Karla Zimonja (Gone Home)
and funded by Annapurna. Sadly, Wanderstop didn't sell as well as was hoped and they were forced to close down in March 2026. The next game they were working on has been shelved as they couldn't secure alternative funding. Early videos looked like they had potential so maybe they can work something out
It's a disappointing result but I suspect we haven't heard the last from Davey
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
widedub (edited )LinkIve been working through my Steam backlog independently and have spent my time on a few games Wanderstop - This is the newest game from Davey Wreden of The Stanley Parable and The Beginners Guide...Ive been working through my Steam backlog independently and have spent my time on a few games
Wanderstop - This is the newest game from Davey Wreden of The Stanley Parable and The Beginners Guide fame. On the surface, this game is a cozy cottagecore game about working in a tea shop. You grow plants/trees, gather ingredients and make tea for the patrons as they come through. However, there are heavy introspective themes sprinkled throughout. Given the creators previous two games, this game is not quite what I expected but it is extremely enjoyable. Many reviews of it I read discuss it as a type of foil to Stardew Valley and I think thats fair. Where Concerned Ape's game encourages and rewards an optimization grind, Wanderstop is laid back, allowing you to unroll the story at your own pace. The supporting characters are memorable, the best dialogue is thought provoking and the gameplay loop, especially the team making apparatus, is varied enough to keep it fresh. It's a short game. I''m in the last section now (or at least that's what the game told me) and I've put in just under 10 hours. Did I mention the adorable birds you keep as pets at the shop? If you crave constant action and progression, this game may not be for you but its the kind of title I'll think about long after I've played it for the last time
Minishoot Adventures - This game combines a bullet hell, twin stick shooter style with a Zeldavania format and is it incredibly fun. In this game, you play as a spaceship and zip around the world battling a variety of enemies, discovering powerups/secrets, and battling dungeons with multi-stage bosses at the end. The story is a little light on details but it works with the amount of action this game throws your way. The controls are tight and you're given several options for difficulty that can make this game enjoyable for a wide variety of players. It can rely a bit too heavily on the monster in a closet approach to combat but the gameplay is so fun that it never bothered me. Deaths rarely feel unfair and you don't lose progress which kept this game from feeling like a slog. I rarely play a game to 100% but I am working on completing it after defeating the final boss because Im not ready to leave this world behind
Invisible Inc - This is a turn-based, action espionage title that is around a decade old. It's held up rather well. In this game, you play as a futuristic spy agency that is being hunted by corporations hell bent on wiping you out. You travel around the globe completing missions like sabotaging the corps, stealing their tech/money and freeing other spies to be used in your agency. Standing in your way are guards, cameras and other tech dedicated to detecting you. If spotted, the difficulty increases as the quantity and quality of patrols increase. Each spy has their own advantages and you also have the assistance of an AI whose abilities can be used to seize control or disable of the technology being levied against you. This game is hard! Whenever I think I have figured out the corps defenses, some new adversary or strategy gets thrown against you and you have to rethink your plans to stay one step ahead. Beyond that, the levels are procedurally generated and youre forced to strategize accordingly instead of just memorizing floorplans/approaches. I'm only about halfway through my first playthrough but I do know some spoilers about this game and suspect the replayability is going to be very high
-
Comment on Anyone playing Subnautica 2? in ~games
widedub LinkI'm on the fence about preordering it. I have subnautica 1 on PSN but the S1, S:BZ and S2 bundle on Steam is very tempting. S1 is a top game for me all time and Id love to replay it on my desktop...I'm on the fence about preordering it. I have subnautica 1 on PSN but the S1, S:BZ and S2 bundle on Steam is very tempting. S1 is a top game for me all time and Id love to replay it on my desktop and I know the price is probably only going to go up unless I'm very patient
-
Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
widedub LinkI got word that my cholestorol/trigycerides are high so Im abstaining from booze and trying to avoid unhealthy foods for awhile as a type of reset. It's going ok. Beer and chips are my main...I got word that my cholestorol/trigycerides are high so Im abstaining from booze and trying to avoid unhealthy foods for awhile as a type of reset. It's going ok. Beer and chips are my main weaknesses with a nod to red meat/fried foods. My diet isn't too terrible otherwise...I get a decent amount of fiber and eat vegetables everyday at least. I'm going to miss having a cold drink especially after working outside but hopefully I can rebase my numbers and return to a more responsible consumption level later on
I'm also trying to make a plan to fish Cat6 through my house. Its a much larger enterprise than I imagined. Im in a narrow townhome with three stories and Id like for my equipment to be in the basement. Attic access is spotty so Im pretty much resigned to hoping I can minimize the amount of drywall I need to cut. I've never patched drywall so thats another skill I need to learn
-
Comment on What's your favorite personal gaming memory? in ~games
widedub LinkI'm gonna cheat and name two from the PS2 era. I played video games as a kid but I'd never ventured much beyond the occasional N64 titles with friends. When I was a started university in 2006, I...I'm gonna cheat and name two from the PS2 era. I played video games as a kid but I'd never ventured much beyond the occasional N64 titles with friends. When I was a started university in 2006, I decided to treat myself to a console and bought a used PS2 with a handful of games off Craigslist
Final Fantasy X - Yuna dancing on the water
I had rented a copy of the original Final Fantasy on NES a few times (still havent beaten that one), so I figured I'd give it a shot. I had no idea what I was in for. The opening scene with Sin attacking Zanarkand was something but the scene that completely blew my mind is when Yuna is asked to send souls to the Farplane. This isn't gameplay, it's a cut scene but the animation and presentation level were so far beyond anything I had ever experienced in a vaideo game, it may as well have been from another dimension. The scene is beautifully animated with a classic theme by Nobuo Uematsu and, while it may sound crazy, I think it validated for me the idea of video games as an art form. "People die and Yuna dances" is one of the lines I immediately think of whenever that game comes upMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - Crazy Colonel
While I was playing FFX, I was also playing MGS2. I had watched my friend play MGS1 on PSX and didnt really get the story but the Psycho Mantis battle always stuck out. There are so many amazing part to this game but the Colonel and his crazy codecs is my pick for the most memorable. It's a meme now but how many of us shut off the console mid-game and lost progress? How many people tried to decipher the Colonels mostly meaningless jibberish? It took a game that felt mostly serious in tone and completely flipped it into that Kojima level of absurdity that was completely alien to me. All of Arsenal Gear is kinda crazy like that. The replacement radar screens, Fission Mailed....all of it blends into an unforgettable gaming experience that I wish I could play again for the first timeBoth of these experiences made me realize how much gaming had changed from when I was a kid. Before all that, I might occasionally pick up a controller at a friends house. After ,I started buying my own systems, researching my own purchases and curating my own collection
-
Comment on Reddit reports 69% jump in revenue, topping analyst estimates in ~tech
widedub Link Parentold dot reddit does not have the annoying popup. Who knows how long thats going to last thoughold dot reddit does not have the annoying popup. Who knows how long thats going to last though
-
Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
widedub LinkI took my nephew to see his first movie in a theater! My sister has sensory issues and has been unable to take him but he's developed a natural curiosity about movie theatres after seeing them in...I took my nephew to see his first movie in a theater! My sister has sensory issues and has been unable to take him but he's developed a natural curiosity about movie theatres after seeing them in one of his favorite shows (Trash Truck) We went to see the new Mario movie and he absolutely loved it.
Minor Super Mario Galaxy movie spoilers
He was a little disappointed because his favorite character, Daisy, wasn't in the sequel. I had checked beforehand to see if there was post-credit scenes and she appeared in the last one. He was thrilled
According to my sis, the little guy hasn't stopped talking about it. He's already planning another trip next weekend
-
Comment on Which covers did it better than (or put a fresh twist on) the original? in ~music
widedub (edited )LinkA mix of covers I enjoy ranging from label releases to small youtube creators Schneider TM & KPT.michi.gan, The Light 3000 - A glitchy idm cover of The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes...A mix of covers I enjoy ranging from label releases to small youtube creators
- Schneider TM & KPT.michi.gan, The Light 3000 - A glitchy idm cover of The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out. My favorite cover
- José González - Heartbeats I have a soft spot for the original by The Knife but this an excellent and perhaps well known cover
- MEUTE - You & Me A Marching band style cover of Flume's remix of Disclosure - You & Me. These guys cover quite a few songs, this one translates well
- Moderator - Words Remain A trip hop-ish cover of Josh Garrels though iirc the original has roots in Jewish history
- Sticky Fingers - Delete Like a Version feels like cheating a bit here but this is my favorite from the series. Nothing complicated here, its a stylistic cover of DMAs - Delete
- Great Grey Buildings - Oceanographer's Choice A cover of The Mountain Goats. No Children gets all of the attention from Tallahassee but this song has always been a personal favorite and this version works for me when I want an alternative
- Erin Rae - Across the Great Divide A Kate Wolf cover that respects the original while applying the artists personal sound
- Kate & Janelle - Star Witness A Neko Case cover from my younger years. Its pretty faithful to the original but has the raw energy of a couple of kids jamming in a school stairwell
- Juliana Chahayed - What You Won't Do For Love - A cover of Bobby Caldwells classic. This is a frequently covered song, been a fan of this version for a decade or so
- Soft Cell - Tainted Love An 80s classic, Its fairly well known that this is a cover of Gloria Jones version from the 70s
- Israel Kamakawiwoʻole - Somewhere over the Rainbow This one is pretty well known but I didn't see it mentioned
-
Comment on How are we all feeling about piracy these days? in ~movies
widedub Link ParentI was playing around on Soulseek chats as a teen nearly 15 years ago. I cant believe it's still around!I was playing around on Soulseek chats as a teen nearly 15 years ago. I cant believe it's still around!
-
Comment on Happy 17776 Day! in ~misc
widedub LinkI've never seen this before despite being a football fan and firmly planted in internet culture at the time it was published. I wasn't able to watch the videos but it was an enthralling read. I...I've never seen this before despite being a football fan and firmly planted in internet culture at the time it was published. I wasn't able to watch the videos but it was an enthralling read. I did have some difficulty with
Click to view minor spoilers
The page that read down, up, and down again. I read it once or twice out of order before realizing the way it was meant to be viewed
But I enjoyed myself all the same. Looking forward to checking out the follow up. Thanks for sharing
-
Comment on Caravan Palace - Good Mouse (2026) | MOUSE: P.I. For Hire original game soundtrack in ~music
widedub (edited )Link ParentI thought it was content from the video game it was prepared for? I watched the trailers and, while I don't immediately remember anything that crossed over between the music video and the game...I thought it was content from the video game it was prepared for? I watched the trailers and, while I don't immediately remember anything that crossed over between the music video and the game promo, the art style is pretty consistent
-
Comment on Caravan Palace - Good Mouse (2026) | MOUSE: P.I. For Hire original game soundtrack in ~music
widedub Link ParentI couldn't help but think of Lone Digger while watching this. I prefer that one from a video standpoint but this is a decent song and videoI couldn't help but think of Lone Digger while watching this. I prefer that one from a video standpoint but this is a decent song and video
-
Can we talk about rice cookers?
I've always made rice in a pot on the stove and that's served me very well but I also like to steam vegetables, dumplings (usually from frozen), and eat oats for breakfast. After a bit of...
I've always made rice in a pot on the stove and that's served me very well but I also like to steam vegetables, dumplings (usually from frozen), and eat oats for breakfast. After a bit of research, I've determined that I'm in the market for a rice cooker, an appliance I have never owned and have 0 experience with. Like most kitchen gadgets, I find that the market is oversaturated with options and my attempts at research have led me to some wildly different conclusions. Do I stick with brands I know like Cuisinart or KitchenAid? Do I spring for the fancy Japanese brands? Or do I cheap out and then upgrade when the device burns out? How large of a volume do I need? Are the fancy steamer inserts worth it? What if I want to steam rice and veges in one go? And so on
For my personal use case, I make rice 3-4 times per week easily. I need to be able to make enough rice for 4-6 adults max in one sitting. I would like to make a decent amount of dumplings in one go, say enough to get 4-6 adults started while I steam a second round. I want to be capable of steaming veggies and making oats. I want it to have a removable insert for cleaning. I'd like it to be fairly easy to use. Are these common wishlist items for a rice cooker? I am really not sure
Beyond my use case, I'm interested in what people own and use. Do you use it often? Any regrets? What other foods can I make with this gadget?
Edit: I appreciate everyone who has weighed in so far. I did want to add that I prefer not to add an instant pot. Not to discount anyone's experience but I have had bad luck with them (I've had a pair that burned out in the warranty period, one on its first use) and already have a slow cooker and pressure cooker cooker I am very happy with. I know they're amazing and do all kinds of different things but I'm interested primarily in a rice cooker that can handle a few extra tasks
52 votes -
Comment on WNBA agreement to give every rookie under contract a raise in ~sports.basketball
widedub LinkI'm not a WNBA fan but it's been well known in sports circles that their players have been criminally underpaid. Happy to see their players get a larger share of the pie especially given the...I'm not a WNBA fan but it's been well known in sports circles that their players have been criminally underpaid. Happy to see their players get a larger share of the pie especially given the recent increase in league popularity. Another win for collective bargaining
-
Comment on Job hunting absolutely sucks right now in ~life
widedub (edited )Link ParentAlso in Software Engineering, and have been not so seriously looking for 12-18 months My perception is that employers are looking for a deal right now. Everyone seems to want to pay a bit less...Also in Software Engineering, and have been not so seriously looking for 12-18 months
My perception is that employers are looking for a deal right now. Everyone seems to want to pay a bit less than they were because of AI, market/economic concerns, or some other nebulous reason. In a way, I feel like this is the pendulums return swing from the great resignation a few years back where it seemed like everyone in the field was hopping to new opportunities for significant salary bumps, but I have no doubt that employers are trying to play any advantage that they can get.
I'm lucky to be fairly comfortable in my current role. Excuse the pessimism but I don't envy anyone urgently looking for a position in this field
I missed the last thread or two but I borrowed and finished Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. This was my first exposure to Ishiguro, largely driven by wanting to read the book before the film release that finally escaped development hell and is coming out this October
This book is about Klara, an Artificial Friend (AF) and her life ranging from a display model in a store to being purchased by a family and all that comes after. This book is very approachable. I devoured a section/chapter per day and never found my desire to turn the page wanting. The sections are well constructed and give you a logical place to pause and reflect on the books events. I would recommend this book
I loved this book! Klara was enjoyable to follow and, while I wouldn't call her an unreliable narrator exactly, I did catch myself wondering just how much her knowledge or limited knowledge tinged her interpretation of people and events. I was really impressed with how human Ishiguro makes Klara felt despite many reminders that she an android and I think her experience from the store to the final scene is a pretty obvious allegory for a human life. I think one of the questions Ishiguro wants us to ask after reading this book is, what makes a human? Klara may be an AF but seems to run a wide swath through the human experience...she learns, she sacrifices, she ruminates on her experiences. She's not human but where do we draw the line?
I found making predictions as I read the book
Some of my predictions while reading (whole book spoilers)
and nearly every one was wrong. I'm not sure if this is an Ishiguro calling card but the misdirection was masterfully subtle and I never felt cheated when the book took a turn I didn't expect. Ive caught up on some of the major criticisms of this book, like Klara should have been programmed with wide knowledge before leaving the factory but I never felt like any of the gaps took away from my enjoyment during reading. I found the ending a little sad but also peaceful. It never occurred to me that AF would age out as quickly as Klara did (maybe I missed a key line in the book) and I hated how she was discarded but I found the final encounter in the book to be a fine closing point for the novel in a way that wraps up the human life allegory I mentioned above.
I'd love to discuss Klara further with anyone else who has read it. It really made an impression on me and I almost certainly will pick up a copy for my bookshelf when I happen across one. I'm fairly interested to try more Ishiguro with the perhaps obvious The Remains of the Day being near the top of my list. Depending on which is available from the library first, next for me is likely Ursula K Le Guin's Left Hand of Darkness or John Williams' Stoner, both of which come highly recommended