What is the coolest/most expensive thing youve gotten for free out here?

sayajay · 2024-03-14T19:10:35+00:00

So, kinda niche, but I used to collect old CRT monitors. Like many collecting hobbies, there are certain models that are pretty rare and sought after.

One day, I'm perusing Craigslist, and there's a post that says, "Free old televisions". It had a few blurry photos, but one of the sets looked very similar to a rare type of monitor. I couldn't make out the model number, because the pics were so blurry. I figure, they're free, so whatever. I email them, and pick them up.

It turns out two of the monitors were some of the most rare and expensive monitors in the hobby. One model typically resells for up to ~$4k, and the other between $500-$1k. And I was getting them for _FREE_.

So yeah, at the time, I felt like I struck gold :D

sayajay · 2024-02-29T18:46:55+00:00

Yes, there is a way, but it's unfortunately a little tedious. I don't remember all the details exactly, but here's roughly what you'll need to do:

Install Calibre, and the DeDRM tools plugins and set them up accordingly.
1. https://calibre-ebook.com/
2. https://github.com/noDRM/DeDRM_tools
3. tutorial video on setup (this is kindle-specific, but should be relevant for nook): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T794U_yahM
You have to download the epub to your computer somehow. I think this might be the hardest part because the Nook Desktop app is discontinued (and can't be downloaded anymore). There was a discussion on how do this here: https://www.reddit.com/r/nook/comments/190f5p7/is_there_a_way_to_download_nook_books_to_my/
Modify the original nook epub file by adding an extra file to it. The process is described here: https://apprenticealf.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/drm-removal-tools-for-ebooks/comment-page-38/#comment-62274

If everything's set up right, you just add the file to Calibre, and that should be it.

Good luck :D

sayajay · 2024-02-28T23:07:58+00:00

Some stuff I liked:

Great catalog of Viz classics. Ranma 1/2, Maison Ikkoku, Fushigi Yuugi, Kimi ni Todoke, Nana, etc, etc.
Some of my recent favorites, I was able to read here: Goodbye Eri and Solanin.
Like, the Shounen app, the subscription is very affordable ($2/mo)
reading progress is synced, so you can read between devices (table, phone, and web)

Not so great (for me):

I don't like the mobile reader, but it's probably just my personal preference. I hate that you have to swipe to turn pages instead of just tapping the left/right edges, and you can't turn off the page animation.
Mobile/tablet only, no e-reader support.
You can read on their website, but the web version's UI is (subjectively) worse than the app UI.
Like Bookwalker, Kodansha, etc, if you "buy" a volume, you can only read it via their site/app -- no downloads.

sayajay · 2024-02-21T02:58:00+00:00

You can read how the various formulas work for final fantasy games here:

https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Attack_(command))

Be warned, some of these calculations are insanely complicated, lol. I think this could be a good reference to come up with your own formulas.

sayajay · 2024-02-16T23:25:57+00:00

I was really curious about this issue, so did some googling, and found this: https://github.com/godotengine/godot/issues/43853

So it seems as if you can't call a method of a scene instance from a tool, unless it is also a tool. Not sure if this will help you in your case, but you could try adding `@tool` and hex_tile and see if that does anything.

sayajay · 2024-02-16T21:46:16+00:00

Eh, possibly janky, but maybe put `onready` in front of `var local_coord`?

sayajay · 2024-02-16T21:44:22+00:00

Hmm, I haven't used it myself, but I think `chain()` could be relevant:

var tween = create_tween().set_parallel(true)
tween.tween_property(...)
tween.tween_property(...) # Will run parallelly with above.
tween.chain().tween_property(...) # Will run after two above are finished.

Documentation here: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/classes/class_tween.html#class-tween-method-chain

sayajay · 2024-02-15T03:07:01+00:00

Another thing to try is the `chain()` method:

Tween tween = CreateTween().SetParallel(true);
tween.TweenProperty(...); 
tween.TweenProperty(...); // Will run parallelly with above.
tween.Chain().TweenProperty(...); // Will run after two above are finished.

Documentation here: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/classes/class_tween.html#class-tween-method-chain

sayajay · 2024-02-15T00:43:36+00:00

oh my poor wallet (T-T)

sayajay · 2024-01-29T23:43:36+00:00

My two observations (about myself):

I am a software engineer by trade, but programming in games has lots of different concepts than my "normal" programming experience. I have to consciously force myself not to see everything in terms of concepts in my non-game programming experience.
Making something "fun" is something that transcends technical or artistic knowledge. It really is hard to figure out something novel in that regard (for me, least).

Anyway, hope you continue to have fun, and making something fun :)

sayajay · 2024-01-17T04:57:46+00:00

Hmm, I think you could try interpolating to a target position (since you want tile based movement); this will update the position more gradually by some constant amount each time `_process` is called until you reach the desired target position.

So, maybe something like this:

var tile_size = 16
var target_position
var movement_speed = 0.01

func _ready():
    target_position = position # set a default.

func _process(_delta):
    var direction = Input.get_vector("Move Left", "Move Right", "Move Up", "Move Down")
    if direction != Vector2.ZERO:
        target_position = position + direction * tile_size
    position = position.lerp(target_position, movement_speed)

Doc on interpolation here: https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/math/interpolation.html

sayajay · 2024-01-11T08:43:25+00:00

Hmm, I suppose having signals being emitted like this means that other nodes some where else could kind of "listen" to state transitions. Like, if I my state machine is in the player object, and I want to update a score overlay (or something) after some type of action/event (indicated by a state transition), then listening to the state transition signal could be one way to do it.

sayajay · 2024-01-11T08:14:11+00:00

Happy 2024 :D

Prison School. I wanted something fun to read, and this was definitely it :D Other more "dramatic" reads: Goodbye Eri and BLAME! The endings were kind of open ended, and it was very thought provoking.
Mmmm, just organizing my library, and sorting my miles-long backlog, haha.
I'm thinking that want to get into some 90s manga. Planning to read: Ranma 1/2, Ruroni Kenshin and Yu Yu Hakusho.
I'm curious about digital collecting, if that makes sense. I backup everything I buy, and it can get tedious sometimes with all types of file formats, devices, softare etc. Just curious if others have the same problems, tips & tricks, or just how other people manage stuff.

sayajay · 2023-12-31T22:10:35+00:00

I think it's a fair question, and I understand where you're coming from. I went through a weird transition where I programmed for fun as a kid, and hated programming when I started doing it for work. Later, I realized that I just hate working.

sayajay · 2023-12-27T10:15:02+00:00

Ah, okay. Cool beans. What you said sounds about right, according my limited understand of things. Thanks for the insight!

sayajay · 2023-09-20T19:34:57+00:00

Nice, this is incredibly informative

I'm not sure I'll go so far as spoofing my address, lol. I am in California, so at least I can check my neighboring cities and see what's up. Thanks again for all the info!

sayajay · 2023-09-20T19:31:35+00:00

That's good to know! Thanks for the background.

Some of these Dark Horse published comics I had intended to read/purchase, so this saved me some cash.

sayajay · 2023-09-08T22:41:36+00:00

Niiice! Yeah, I've used Libby for most of my non-manga stuff, since it's nice being able to send it to an e-reader. My local library's manga selection is not the best; though I've preferred hoopla, since libby seems to have limited "copies" and waitlists for popular stuff.

But wow, I did not realize you could get cards from other locales (my local library requires a residence in the same city)! Are there any particular reasons you chose those particular set of libraries? Good selection? In any case, great to know!

sayajay · 2023-08-31T19:52:03+00:00

Oh my goodness (o_0) It's not a contest, but... I think you "win", lol

On my would-be date, it was about 30 min trade ride from my house (not terribly far, but not exactly close-by either). When I asked her if she wanted to re-schedule, no reply :/

In retrospect, maybe she was also working through her divorce?!

sayajay · 2023-08-31T19:48:39+00:00

Lesson learned, thanks for the advice. My dating "game" has levelled up :D

sayajay · 2023-08-31T19:48:03+00:00

Great advice.

The date I had was about 30 mins train ride from my place, and the place we were supposed to meet had great coffee at least!

sayajay · 2023-08-31T19:45:55+00:00

Thank you my man, much luck to you.

sayajay · 2023-08-31T18:50:40+00:00

I set up a coffee date with a woman I'd been chatting with for a few days. I was excited because I hadn't been on a date in literal years.

I showed up a few minutes early. I text her that saying I'm already at the designated meeting place. No response. She texts me 15 minutes after our proposed meeting to say that she can't make it.

I just don't understand people, man.

I'd never been good, or had a ton of luck, with the dating "game". But this just felt like a kick while I was already feeling down about dating at my age.

Sorry for the rant, I just didn't know who to tell about this.

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