winther's recent activity
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
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Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk
winther Link ParentOnly in videos and while it does look similarly easy, the brewing style is pretty different so I guess it will be a very different flavor profile.Only in videos and while it does look similarly easy, the brewing style is pretty different so I guess it will be a very different flavor profile.
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More than 140 Kenya Facebook moderators diagnosed with severe PTSD
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Comment on What short standalone book is worth more than its page count? in ~books
winther LinkWay Station by Clifford D. Simak. 210 pages. Simak's most well renowned novel and winner of the Hugo Award in 1964. Simak has a very cozy comfortable writing style often depiction low key rural...Way Station by Clifford D. Simak. 210 pages. Simak's most well renowned novel and winner of the Hugo Award in 1964. Simak has a very cozy comfortable writing style often depiction low key rural living, here combined with a sense of wonder from a much greater populated universe. It is a really unique novel in the science fiction genre.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
winther Link ParentThere is something to that. Because what movies are "pro-war" movies? I guess something like Top Gun at least has recruiting potential without directly praising war itself. And something like Act...There is something to that. Because what movies are "pro-war" movies? I guess something like Top Gun at least has recruiting potential without directly praising war itself. And something like Act of Valor that used active duty navy seals. However, I have a hard time imaging concluding that the military is a great place to be after watching Full Metal Jacket, but I guess that greatly depends on what worldview one has going in.
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Comment on Midweek Movie Free Talk in ~movies
winther LinkI wrapped up the Kubrick filmography with Full Metal Jacket. It was surprising and fun to see how many quotes I have seen and heard in all kinds of places before that came from this movie. Its...I wrapped up the Kubrick filmography with Full Metal Jacket. It was surprising and fun to see how many quotes I have seen and heard in all kinds of places before that came from this movie. Its influence reaches far. I also enjoyed the choice of music. It sets the tone perfectly. Kubrick uses a different way of making an anti-war movie that isn't as direct as he did in Paths of Glory. We just see the military abuse and brainwashing and where it ultimately leads to, told in a very neutral cold manner. I am not super well versed in Vietnam movies but it didn't do a whole lot for me despite being generally impressed with the high quality of filmmaking that Kubrick always comes with.
With Kubrick in general I think 2001 is the pinnacle achievement, but it has been several years since I last saw it, so I am not entirely sure it will still be my favorite. I found all his film to be worth watching, where I hold Dr. Strangelove and Paths of Glory in pretty high regard. I was also surprised with how much I liked Spartacus, even though Kubrick himself wasn't satisfied with it as the studio limited his creative freedom quite a bit. The film I want to rewatch the most however is Eyes Wide Shut. That had something that was difficult to grasp and it seems like a film that really could develop or change over time by revisiting it.
Would love to hear if anyone has any opinions on Kubrick in general.
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Comment on Star Trek: Section 31 | Trailer in ~movies
winther Link ParentYes and no. It has been a while since Star Trek really was the frontrunner on things. It has mostly played catch up. Janeway and Sisko were great captains, but Enterprise seemed to go almost in...Yes and no. It has been a while since Star Trek really was the frontrunner on things. It has mostly played catch up. Janeway and Sisko were great captains, but Enterprise seemed to go almost in reverse in some aspects, not to mention how Seven of Nine was treated. Star Trek also took a pretty long time to acknowledge other sexualities. It was vaguely hinted at at times, but they never fully committed until Discovery. The interracial kiss in the 60s often comes up, but that is also 60 years ago and I think it has been a while since Star Trek has done anything remotely similar.
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Comment on Star Trek: Section 31 | Trailer in ~movies
winther Link ParentWhile I completely agree with you on the core principles missing from the later series and maybe the new shows don't make fans the same way the old shows did, but from what I can gather from those...While I completely agree with you on the core principles missing from the later series and maybe the new shows don't make fans the same way the old shows did, but from what I can gather from those that actually likes those new shows, they seem to provide something else. First they have better representation of all kinds of people (race, sexuality, personality, body type and so forth). Being a default straight white nerdy male, representation has not been a thing I had given any thought at all. I could identify with Data. But I can see from fan discussions, that these thing matter a great deal. In addition, the new shows also acknowledge mental struggles. The classic shows for the most part showed psychological super humans, that still carried on like any other day despite being thrown into a new PTSD life threatening situation every other weak. The newer shows at least acknowledges that trauma and mental burdens exists, and that is also an element I can see resonate with many people. It may be a departure from the more utopian view of the world that we love from the classic Star Trek and I do believe we still need that. But clearly there are people liking the new directions, and they are allowed to be true trekkies just as much as the rest of us.
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Comment on Contempt culture and its currency in ~tech
winther Link ParentTrue, and so is PowerpointTrue, and so is Powerpoint
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Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech
winther Link ParentI thought so too at first but I have been on the 300 plan for over a year now and don't even use all my searches. I think I formed better habits by using bangs more and going directly to the site...I thought so too at first but I have been on the 300 plan for over a year now and don't even use all my searches. I think I formed better habits by using bangs more and going directly to the site using the browsers autocomplete. Of course that won't work for anyone depending on use, but I do think the general quality of the service makes the number of searches you need to make lower than normal.
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Comment on What long standalone book is worth its page count? in ~books
winther LinkSimply going by my Goodreads sorted by pagecount the first great novel not part of a series is The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. 763 pages. It is a alternate history in a world...Simply going by my Goodreads sorted by pagecount the first great novel not part of a series is The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. 763 pages.
It is a alternate history in a world where the black death was slightly more effective and European people and civilization are completely removed from history. An interesting premise and as usual well written by Robinson.
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Comment on Ctrl-c ten year anniversary and the issue of Ctrl-ZINE to go with it in ~tech
winther LinkI read issue 18 and found it an enjoyable read. Bit weird to read a piece that write very compassionately about blogs in a PDF from a site without a RSS feed. Though I understand that Ctrl-C is a...I read issue 18 and found it an enjoyable read. Bit weird to read a piece that write very compassionately about blogs in a PDF from a site without a RSS feed. Though I understand that Ctrl-C is a different type of community and I understand the novelty of the classic fanzine formula. I still receive a PDF science fiction fanzine every once in a while from a mailing list.
The whole small web thing is a thing I still find great in theory and I am technically part of it with two self hosted blogs, but I still haven’t found that sense of community that existed with blogging 15-20 years ago, because interactions and discussions about topics I am passionate about have moved to sites like Tildes for me, whereas blogging in itself is mostly just a process to enjoy but it feels mostly posting to the void.
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Comment on Kagi Small Web in ~tech
winther Link ParentIn the grand scheme of things, I think those pennies are miniscule compared to where the spending for most of us goes indirectly. Russia is still exporting huge amounts of gas, likely powering...In the grand scheme of things, I think those pennies are miniscule compared to where the spending for most of us goes indirectly. Russia is still exporting huge amounts of gas, likely powering factories making tons of stuff we buy.
Everyone is of course allowed to choose their own moral standing of which companies they want to buy from. I just personally think my $5 does more good here than the viable alternatives, and I wouldn't choose a few pennies that goes to Yandex to be the moral high horse to focus on compared to other things that involves more money.
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Comment on What are favorite holiday themed TV episodes? in ~tv
winther LinkAs a big fan of Frasier, some of the Christmas episodes are what comes to mind. Miracle on Third or Fourth Street from season one is a heartwarming classic, but maybe a tad heavy handed. I like...As a big fan of Frasier, some of the Christmas episodes are what comes to mind. Miracle on Third or Fourth Street from season one is a heartwarming classic, but maybe a tad heavy handed. I like Frasier Grinch from season 3 better, and I love the ending with the "Outlaw Lazer Robot Geek". We Two Kings from season 10 is also hilarious, where the brothers both want to host Christmas and they go overboard trying to convince Martin to choose them and it all ends in chaos of course.
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What are favorite holiday themed TV episodes?
We have a thread on Christmas movies and I was reminded that many TV shows also have some great holiday themed episodes. Which shows has the best ones?
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Comment on What are your Christmas movies? in ~movies
winther Link ParentOh yes, holiday specials in tv shows deserves its own topic as well.Oh yes, holiday specials in tv shows deserves its own topic as well.
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Comment on Kagi Small Web in ~tech
winther Link ParentThe recent discussion can give you some pointers on reasons.The recent discussion can give you some pointers on reasons.
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Comment on What are your Christmas movies? in ~movies
winther LinkGreat responses everyone! Just to answer my own question as well, I don't have any specific must see movies, though I do enjoy Home Alone quite a bit now as the kids are old enough to have fun...Great responses everyone! Just to answer my own question as well, I don't have any specific must see movies, though I do enjoy Home Alone quite a bit now as the kids are old enough to have fun with it as well. I love Die Hard but I honestly think the whole meme on "iT is ACtuALly a ChrIStmaS mOVIe" a bit dumb.
However, what I most correlate with Christmas is the so called julekalender (Christmas calendar) which is basically 24 TV episodes with a Christmas theme, usually aimed at kids. I think it is mostly a Scandinavian phenomena and it has been a thing since the 60s on national TV. There are dozens of them and each year the big tv stations either does one or more reruns or a new one. I think most generation of Danes have nostalgic memories of whatever julekalender they watched as a kid. They also made them aimed at adults, with the most popular one being The Julekalender which is getting a rerun practically every year.
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Comment on What possession(s) do you have that continue to delight you every time? in ~talk
winther LinkMy Aeropress. I have had one for about 10 years, only recently having to get a new one. Use it every morning in the exactly same way, giving me good coffee every time. Lovely uncomplicated analog...My Aeropress. I have had one for about 10 years, only recently having to get a new one. Use it every morning in the exactly same way, giving me good coffee every time. Lovely uncomplicated analog way of making coffee.
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Comment on Anyone interested in trying out Kagi? in ~tech
Broken speaker is definitely the wrong way to watch that ;)
I have a complicated relationship with that movie, and I haven't seen it since release. It is an awesome audiovisual experience in the theater, but it gradually fell apart for me afterwards. The hype up to it focused heavily on how scientifically accurate it was. That they had astrophysicists working on the script and so forth. For a big science fiction fan like me, that set some pretty high expectations. Because very few science fiction movies takes the science part seriously. So it was really jarring when the movie couldn't live up to its own premise, with various scientific inconsistencies and a weird mix of being very precise and verbose with heavy exposition and explanations for some things, whereas other things were just glossed over with vague hand waving. I wasted too much time discussing this with people online, where it basically come down whether one sees science fiction as just fantasy in space or something that should resemble scientific accuracy.
I haven't thought of the metaphor for parentage as a viewing angle, and it perhaps time for rewatch for me as well. Though, I just watched 2001 last night and I am almost insulted by those who dare compare Interstellar to that, so the right state of open mind is probably needed :)