Face to face with the scale of the cosmos
25
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winther's recent activity
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
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Comment on Throwback Thursday: Let's talk old flash and memes! in ~talk
winther Link ParentOh god the llama song :D Then I feel like it is obligatory for me to throw in All your baseOh god the llama song :D
Then I feel like it is obligatory for me to throw in All your base
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Comment on Vimeo enters into definitive agreement to be acquired by Bending Spoons for $1.38 billion in ~tech
winther Link ParentThey provide videostreaming infrastructure for smaller streaming services. I know Criterion Channel uses them.They provide videostreaming infrastructure for smaller streaming services. I know Criterion Channel uses them.
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Comment on Don’t like joining in? Why it could be your superpower. in ~life
winther LinkWhile labeling personality traits into such terms as introverted and extroverted is in many ways flawed and reductive, and this third option introduced here with otroverted does seem like sort of...While labeling personality traits into such terms as introverted and extroverted is in many ways flawed and reductive, and this third option introduced here with otroverted does seem like sort of a subset of the introverted trait, I must admit I personally found it a bit more fitting than the usual introverted stereotypes. Maybe it will resonate with others.
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Don’t like joining in? Why it could be your superpower.
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Comment on Study finds Rotten Tomatoes scores inflated by 13% compared to ten years ago in ~movies
winther Link ParentWhile all scoring system are flawed and reductive, you have to actually read reviews to get something substantial, but over 8 on IMDB or 4 on Letterboxd is usually a decent indication of a good...While all scoring system are flawed and reductive, you have to actually read reviews to get something substantial, but over 8 on IMDB or 4 on Letterboxd is usually a decent indication of a good movie. RT is mostly just noise, as so many movies easily go above 80-90% fresh. Of course that is also just down to the nature of how they score, as it is more binary whether the reviewer recommends the film or not. So freshness doesn't have much difference between a decent movie and a masterpiece, as both will end up in a thumps up.
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Comment on Bland, easy to follow, for fans of everything: what has the Netflix algorithm done to our films? in ~movies
winther Link ParentThe changing of thumbnails is also mentioned: Which to me is very offputting, and dishonest in that it is trying to "sell" a movie as something it isn't. Not unlike dishonest trailers, which...The changing of thumbnails is also mentioned:
The streaming firms already auto-generate artwork and trailers, personalised for each subscriber. If, say, Good Will Hunting appears on the feed of an inveterate romcom watcher, their thumbnail image for the film would feature Matt Damon and Minnie Driver getting cosy; for a user who prefers comedies, Robin Williams would feature.
Which to me is very offputting, and dishonest in that it is trying to "sell" a movie as something it isn't. Not unlike dishonest trailers, which directors often have little control over.
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Comment on What art means to me in this era of AI tools in ~tech
winther Link ParentThank you for pointing out the font issue. Honestly not something I have given much thought, beyond trying to mimic the look of webpages in the mid 90s, though I don't even use frames or comic...Thank you for pointing out the font issue. Honestly not something I have given much thought, beyond trying to mimic the look of webpages in the mid 90s, though I don't even use frames or comic sans, so I didn't fully commit.
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Comment on What art means to me in this era of AI tools in ~tech
winther Link ParentFunny to see my post suddenly pop up here. Had to read what I wrote again, and I can still stand behind it. If I have anything new to add today, it would be that has created a new sort of...Funny to see my post suddenly pop up here. Had to read what I wrote again, and I can still stand behind it. If I have anything new to add today, it would be that has created a new sort of skepticism when I encounter something I think lacks quality, then you start to think it might be LLM-generated. Even though it might, the mere suspicion is introducing a new level of distrust with how we engage with anything new.
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Comment on Bland, easy to follow, for fans of everything: what has the Netflix algorithm done to our films? in ~movies
winther LinkThis a deep dive into how data collection, algorithms and now AI are changing the movie production landscape. There are some interesting points a long the way, as film makers working for Netflix...This a deep dive into how data collection, algorithms and now AI are changing the movie production landscape. There are some interesting points a long the way, as film makers working for Netflix generally say they have been given freedom to what they feel like and that what titles becomes hits or bust is still not something they can easily predict anyway. Yet everyone agrees that the data does influence the creative process, though a point is that is has always done that. There is just more data now.
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Bland, easy to follow, for fans of everything: what has the Netflix algorithm done to our films?
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Comment on Bear is now source-available in ~tech
winther LinkWhile I can empathize with the sort of emotional response, and he can of course do what he wants, I am not sure the threat is actually that big of a deal. But there are some perspectives on how AI...While I can empathize with the sort of emotional response, and he can of course do what he wants, I am not sure the threat is actually that big of a deal. But there are some perspectives on how AI vibe coding is a challenge for the original spirit of FOSS projects. Another bear blogger responded to this.
The value Bear Blog provides isn't really with its tech, but with the community that is built around it. Someone being able to spin up a copy-cat product is not really something I see as a big threat to what herman has built with Bear Blog. It is like an empty instance of Facebook is pretty worthless in itself, as it won't attract users anyway.
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Comment on Denmark has proposed scrapping its tax on chocolate, cake and other sweets, as well as coffee, to help consumers cope with high food prices in ~food
winther Link ParentYes, it would be better if we could lower tax on food in general of just fruit and vegetables. This will most likely just result in more consumption of sweets. People generally buy more candy and...Yes, it would be better if we could lower tax on food in general of just fruit and vegetables. This will most likely just result in more consumption of sweets. People generally buy more candy and chocolate when it is on sale. This is really just mostly pandering before an election.
We have a flat 25% sale tax on everything in Denmark, so the argument for decades has been that we can't possibly deal with different sales tax on different items. And the general assumption that it won't actually result in lower prices for consumers, but just increased profits. Both valid concerns as there will be a transition period for various IT system to adapt and so forth, but it is also a bit annoying to see it all the time as a sort "giving up" answer. Because we have had this high sales tax forever, we can never at least try to change it.
So yeah, the short answer is basically that it is easier and cheaper to simply remove the extra taxes on chocolate and coffee, rather than do something about the general sales tax on healthy food.
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther Link ParentPolytechnique ruined my week a bit more, but Incendies is definitely something as well. I just couldn’t help finding the story too constructed, which took a notch of the emotional impact off the...Polytechnique ruined my week a bit more, but Incendies is definitely something as well. I just couldn’t help finding the story too constructed, which took a notch of the emotional impact off the ending.
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Comment on Spotify is adding direct messaging to their music streaming app in ~tech
winther Link ParentTidal already exists and it is pretty much just a music streaming service. It has its userbase but I don’t see it blowing up any time soon.Tidal already exists and it is pretty much just a music streaming service. It has its userbase but I don’t see it blowing up any time soon.
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Comment on Spotify is adding direct messaging to their music streaming app in ~tech
winther Link ParentIt is jus the inevitable way things go for successful tech companies that have a thousand engineers that need “something” to do and share holders want infinite growth. In my opinion, music...It is jus the inevitable way things go for successful tech companies that have a thousand engineers that need “something” to do and share holders want infinite growth. In my opinion, music streaming is pretty much a solved problem. I would be happy if they will just keep up with new releases and make it easy to see new releases from my favorite artists. But of course that isn’t enough for the “number must go up” people. Also happily switched to Apple Music. It is basic but it does no more than it needs to.
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther Link ParentHaven't seen Vortex yet but if it is anything like his other films, I can imagine it will be "fun".Haven't seen Vortex yet but if it is anything like his other films, I can imagine it will be "fun".
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther Link ParentI have very mixed experiences with all his films, but they have all been worth watching for being so unique and different. Even though I didn't like Kinds of Kindness, I think it is brilliant he...Yorgos Lanthimos
I have very mixed experiences with all his films, but they have all been worth watching for being so unique and different. Even though I didn't like Kinds of Kindness, I think it is brilliant he went out and made that crazy thing after the relative mainstream success of Poor Things - which also is his most "normal" film to date. Dogtooth is still my favorite though.
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Comment on Which directors have a flawless filmography? in ~movies
winther Link ParentI think the 4 hour version is a myth. There was a first screening that was longer than the theatrical release, but only by 19 minutesI think the 4 hour version is a myth. There was a first screening that was longer than the theatrical release, but only by 19 minutes
Watched Tár from 2022. One of those film experiences that I am definitely not done pondering over, and it is difficult to define what makes it work so well. Most of all, I simply liked how this was made, how it approached telling its narrative, the mental deroute, the shifts, the loss of control, the importance of sounds, and most of all - how the film lets me keep my confusion and doubt. I was left to fill in the blanks many places, where other films would have added several transfer scenes. It is gradual, as the beginning of the film really takes it times with things that seem less relevant, but then suddenly things goes fast by and everything makes perfect sense in the end. Perfectly structured and built-up from start to finish. This really deserved the Oscars more than Everything, everywhere, all at once that year.
I didn't know much about it before, but I like classical music and the whole setting was great to sort of "be" in. Maybe I expected something like a mix of Black Swan and Whiplash, and those are not completely missing the mark in terms of comparison, but this is really something else. Maybe closer akin to The Piano Teacher. Definitely not done with this film. And I want to listen to Mahler again.