zod000's recent activity
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Comment on open_slate: private and powerful 2-in-1 tablet in ~tech
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Comment on Norwegian influencer buys failed property development in Spain to build ‘self-sufficient’ eco-community – Modern Eco Village plans to erect 500 homes, schools and shops in ~design
zod000 Link ParentThose kind of numbers might have doable with the super low interest rates that we had 3-4 years ago or prior to the 2008 disaster. Maybe also if you lived in an area with extremely low property...Those kind of numbers might have doable with the super low interest rates that we had 3-4 years ago or prior to the 2008 disaster. Maybe also if you lived in an area with extremely low property taxes and insurance rates. Knowing what my monthly mortgage payment was based on this house price, I can't believe there are people buying homes that cost double that aren't legit rich. I can only imagine those people are in dangerously precarious debt positions and are just living above their means.
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Comment on Norwegian influencer buys failed property development in Spain to build ‘self-sufficient’ eco-community – Modern Eco Village plans to erect 500 homes, schools and shops in ~design
zod000 Link ParentNo, I wasn't thinking of the 30% "rule" for monthly payment, that ship has sadly sailed for most people. Hell, I bought this house at about a 1:3.5 ratio and my payment was over 40% of my salary....No, I wasn't thinking of the 30% "rule" for monthly payment, that ship has sadly sailed for most people. Hell, I bought this house at about a 1:3.5 ratio and my payment was over 40% of my salary. I feel like all the old, smart rules of thumb are to be questioned these days.
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Comment on Norwegian influencer buys failed property development in Spain to build ‘self-sufficient’ eco-community – Modern Eco Village plans to erect 500 homes, schools and shops in ~design
zod000 Link ParentI've always felt that a 1:5 ratio was stretching people far too thin. Maybe with the current prices, that's the only way that people can buy homes, but there is no way I'd bite. I've always tried...I've always felt that a 1:5 ratio was stretching people far too thin. Maybe with the current prices, that's the only way that people can buy homes, but there is no way I'd bite. I've always tried to be closer to 1:3 or 1:3.5.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
zod000 Link ParentBreath of Fire was, IMO, somewhat mediocre, but BoF 2 was quite good. BoF 3 on the PS1 is the pinnacle of the series though. None of the games have much to do with each other, so if we ever decide...Breath of Fire was, IMO, somewhat mediocre, but BoF 2 was quite good. BoF 3 on the PS1 is the pinnacle of the series though. None of the games have much to do with each other, so if we ever decide to pick one for the CGA, BoF 3 would get my vote as long as we don't deem it too long of a game.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
zod000 Link ParentI'll do it as long as no one else fervently wants to do it.I'll do it as long as no one else fervently wants to do it.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
zod000 Link ParentI'm like Maniac Mansion made it, I'd love an excuse to force myself to replay it.I'm like Maniac Mansion made it, I'd love an excuse to force myself to replay it.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
zod000 Link ParentIt is hard to narrow it down to a true top three jRPGs as it was essentially a golden age of the genre. I personally like it more than Earthboard or SMB RPG, but I'm totally biased.It is hard to narrow it down to a true top three jRPGs as it was essentially a golden age of the genre. I personally like it more than Earthboard or SMB RPG, but I'm totally biased.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
zod000 Link ParentI wouldn't worry too much about having them back to back based on the length of any of these games. I've played them all except for Space Rogue (great timing on that GOG sale!), and Lufia II is...I wouldn't worry too much about having them back to back based on the length of any of these games. I've played them all except for Space Rogue (great timing on that GOG sale!), and Lufia II is indeed the longest, but I'd say as long as you don't get too obsessed with a certain optional mid to late game dungeon (that I happen to love), the game isn't too long, maybe 25-30 hours.
I think we may want to split up Lufia II and LTTP just because the genres and source platform are a little too close. We could move one of the truly different games in between then such as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
I'll be fine with any or no change, but I don't think the length is too bad.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure Schedule: April - September 2026 in ~games
zod000 LinkI'm a little intimidated about hosting one of the CGA posts, but I am likely one of the most enthusiastic fans of Lufia II you'll ever find so I'll do it if none of the other nominators are...I'm a little intimidated about hosting one of the CGA posts, but I am likely one of the most enthusiastic fans of Lufia II you'll ever find so I'll do it if none of the other nominators are interested. I do worry about people being able to get the game since as far as I know it isn't on any sort of "virtual console". I personally own the SNES cart and have had the rom since the 90s when emulation was still in its infancy. It's months away, but I hope people get a chance to play it. It is a true classic JRPG from that era that I put in the top three RPGs on the Super Nintendo, the others being Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI (III in the US).
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
zod000 Link ParentThanks, if there is one thing I am good at it is making typos :) I'll fix it.Thanks, if there is one thing I am good at it is making typos :) I'll fix it.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
zod000 (edited )LinkLufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (5) Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (5) Crystalis (3) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (3) Metroid (2) Scroll Lock-on (2)Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (5)
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow (5)
Crystalis (3)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (3)
Metroid (2)
Scroll Lock-on (2) -
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Lobbying Topic in ~games
zod000 Link ParentTetrisphere is my wife's favorite video game of all time. It is also the only video game she has ever completely trounced me on. It wasn't even close lmao.Tetrisphere is my wife's favorite video game of all time. It is also the only video game she has ever completely trounced me on. It wasn't even close lmao.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: February 2026 Voting Topic in ~games
zod000 Link ParentI don't know if it was me that originally nominated Crystalis, but your description is essentially what I would have said. It was an exceptional game for the time, it should have been more popular...I don't know if it was me that originally nominated Crystalis, but your description is essentially what I would have said. It was an exceptional game for the time, it should have been more popular IMO.
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Comment on Dan Simmons, author of the Hyperion Cantos, dies aged 77 in ~books
zod000 Link ParentI also really enjoyed Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion. They are some of my favorites as well.I also really enjoyed Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion. They are some of my favorites as well.
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Comment on What are some bands you regret not seeing live (or, just never had the chance to see in the first place)? in ~music
zod000 Link ParentUg yeah, that's not a seat I'd want either. Maybe that venue in Austin is just more expensive for some reason.Ug yeah, that's not a seat I'd want either. Maybe that venue in Austin is just more expensive for some reason.
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Comment on Is higher education still valuable? in ~life
zod000 Link ParentI think your rebuttal is more agreeing with me than you realize. That was the entire point. It used to be more or less guaranteed that a degree was the way to go if you had the option. Now you...Also anecdotally, it varies wildly on the field you're in.
I think your rebuttal is more agreeing with me than you realize. That was the entire point. It used to be more or less guaranteed that a degree was the way to go if you had the option. Now you need to look at what degree you are getting and how affordably you can get your degree. Your degree is from twenty years ago and is likely vastly cheaper than a degree today. Getting a degree to go into education is actually one of those paths that I am not sure is quite so viable based on todays prices. Teacher's simply do not get paid well enough to justify a degree that isn't discounted by grants and scholarships anymore IMO. My wife was a teacher and got her degree about the same time as you. While she had both grants and scholarships, she did her past two years at a local private University. It took 15 years to pay it off and I ended up paying most of it with my much higher salary. Many of her friends are still paying on their degrees.
The teaching salary in her previous school district now is about 25% higher than she she was there and the cost of her degree based on my quick Google searches would be about 250% higher if she went to those same schools.
I am not saying degrees should be disregarded, I am simply saying you need to look hard and long on it before signing up for a massive financial obligation that even bankruptcy cannot free you from.
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Comment on Is higher education still valuable? in ~life
zod000 Link ParentI used that strategy myself back in the day as I didn't have financial support. I don't know how viable it is now, but we'll definitely be looking into it.I used that strategy myself back in the day as I didn't have financial support. I don't know how viable it is now, but we'll definitely be looking into it.
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Comment on Is higher education still valuable? in ~life
zod000 Link ParentMy youngest is less purely academic than my middle kid, so I am actually leaning towards pushing for something healthcare or skilled. I don't foresee jobs like nursing or similar ever losing...My youngest is less purely academic than my middle kid, so I am actually leaning towards pushing for something healthcare or skilled. I don't foresee jobs like nursing or similar ever losing viability.
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Comment on Is higher education still valuable? in ~life
zod000 LinkI have children a couple of years shy of making this decision now and I would say that even if you take the "AI" subject out of the equation, it is definitely no longer a guaranteed yes like it...I have children a couple of years shy of making this decision now and I would say that even if you take the "AI" subject out of the equation, it is definitely no longer a guaranteed yes like it used to be. A college education used to be far more affordable and get you a lot further in your career than it used to. The vastly increased cost of even four years at a University really needs to be compared to anticipated future salaries (as best you can) at this point. It used to be that simply having a bachelors degree in any subject heavily correlated to significantly higher lifetime earnings. I am simply not sure it makes sense for many degrees anymore. The looming threat of "AI" relegating many well paid white collar jobs to something that is closer to unskilled entry level work is jarring. I'd be both furious and terrified at the state of things if I was finishing up a CS degree right now.
We simply have no idea how it will go, but my answer for my kids is to try to get them as many grants and scholarships as possible and to try to guide them into a education path that will be more able to pivot to a wider range of careers in case one niche gets wiped out.
This thing looks really interesting and I might bite since they did actually release the Brax3 successfully. As an aside, has anyone here had hands on experience with the Brax3 phone? I'm curious how well it works, its performance, and how good its privacy features actually are.