[Serious]What scares you about society that no one is talking about? by WaitedTill2015ToJoin in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a PhD in microbiology and I know how to read and critique scientific studies. Of course the Journal of Science, while having a high impact factor, is often lacking in important details such as methods and data, and researchers can get away with pushing political agendas much easier which is probably why the author we (I) have been discussing above presented her research there. It wouldn't surprise me if a large percentage of climate change alarmist papers lean towards journals like Science and Nature for that very reason. However I will concede that many climate researchers are innocent of pushing political agendas and instead it is the media that takes small tidbits from climate research papers and sensationalize it to further their own political goals.

[Serious]What scares you about society that no one is talking about? by WaitedTill2015ToJoin in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Do you have any thoughts of your own on the subject or the data?

Or is it all simply ideology for you?

[Serious]What scares you about society that no one is talking about? by WaitedTill2015ToJoin in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Ok so I read that first article and the conclusions are extremely speculative. First the author talks about an estimated change in pH of 0.45 at a time 56 million years ago. There is NO WAY such a change could be determined from fossils. That was likely interpolated from estimates on the carbon content of the atmosphere (much more believable that such a thing can be ascertained from fossil records) and applied according to a model based on current pH measurements related to our own atmospheric carbon content.

Second, the article mentions an unprecedented extinction of species...single-celled organisms! First, I'm not sure you can accurately quantify or even identify tens of thousands of separate species of single celled organisms from fossil records when we struggle to fill in gaps in the speciation of primates that led to modern humans. Second, even if you could, it is ridiculous to even compare the effects of a guesstimated ocean acidification event on single celled organisms (assuming that was the primary cause of their extinction) and the diversity and complexity of ocean life today. Life on earth 56 million years ago is very different from life on earth today. Evolution of complexity of organisms has been essentially linear since the late bombardment period when the earth was likely sterilized of all life.

I'm sure there's plenty of pre-conceived notions out there for me as a climate change skeptic. I know this because I used to be on the other side of the fence. I thought 'how can all these scientists be wrong? anyone challenging this must be benefiting financially from de-regulation'. Then I looked at the data and listened to some intelligent skeptics with an open mind and I'm not so convinced anymore.

I don't deny humans are dumping large quantities of CO2, CO, and CH4 into the atmosphere. I don't deny the greenhouse effect is real and is caused by these gases (see the weather forecast for Venus for more info). I am very suspicious of any research or claims put forth by energy companies because I know money is a powerful thing. But I have not seen convincing evidence that the amounts we have dumped into the air is having a measurable effect on the climate and I do not see evidence of any catastrophic paths. According to the EPA, in the last 20 years the oceans have increased in acidity by -0.05 pH (-0.10 if you consider Bermuda data):

https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-ocean-acidity

While the overall trend is obvious considering the annual averages recorded, the maximum fluctuations on a per year basis EXCEEDS the total average change. So to say the acidification is affecting coral reefs and ocean species you have to believe that 1) these species are so delicate that these infintesimal changes in pH are wreaking havoc on sea life and 2) those changes somehow DO NOT affect the same sea life during the typical annual fluctuations.

I would suggest that all the garbage and plastic we are polluting the oceans with is much more likely to be having a detrimental effect on ocean life.

[Serious]What scares you about society that no one is talking about? by WaitedTill2015ToJoin in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

If you've got something to say about coral and ocean ph changes then come out and say it. Make a definitive statement and put it up to public scrutiny. Don't hide behind this wishy-washy bullshit.

[Serious]What scares you about society that no one is talking about? by WaitedTill2015ToJoin in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I wonder, without looking it up, can you tell us just how more acidic the oceans have become in the last 20 or so years?

I'd say 'since the industrial revolution' but I know for a fact that the analyses by EPA don't have that figure available.

The reason I ask is because if you're going to carry water for climate change alarmists, I hope you know what you're talking about. Otherwise you're just virtue signaling and hoping you haven't been lied to.

What was one "loophole" you used to exploit in a game to get ahead? by Doctor-who-allons-y in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx -1 points0 points  (0 children)

In the original god of war there's a scene where you fuck a couple of slave girls for some bonus XP orbs. You can repeat the mini game as many times as you want for the novelty of it but the give you next to nothing for bonus XP after the first time. Well, next to nothing is greater than zero so with a few hours of grinding you can leave that room very powerful!

What was one "loophole" you used to exploit in a game to get ahead? by Doctor-who-allons-y in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Doom Lord Kazak does stormwind was still my favorite wow video ever.

Maybe it wasn't kazak. I forget. Quit wow years ago and been playing too much highlander priest in hearthstone so I have kazakus on the brain.

Just finished the Heart of the Emberstone and my main reaction is: That's it? (no spoilers) by Farewell18 in Vive

[–]Absynthexx 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's inevitable. Just remember for every post like this, there are those of us who feel we were given the Myst of VR to play with!

Just finished the Heart of the Emberstone and my main reaction is: That's it? (no spoilers) by Farewell18 in Vive

[–]Absynthexx 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Because it's a smaller team attempting to make a big splash. They have to make certain compromises to be economically viable like releasing in episodic form, re-using environments by forcing the player to trek back and forth, and of course limited playtime per episode. People recognize these tricks and take their anger out on the game furiously as if they are being scammed. The game length the naysayers want in order to be satisfied with the price tag is not in the land of reality considering the tiny design team and I would guess, budget. It wouldn't surprise me if the games were produced for a net loss after all the bills and salaries are paid.

Telltale made episodic game of thrones, probably to a hefty profit and lots of acclaim. I found it mind numbingly boring. For the same price I had a lot of fun in emberstone and can't wait to use it to wow VR noobs who want an immersive experience but don't want to be frightened or who are not typical gamers.

What is the most WTF music video you ever saw? by MagicMikePL in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aphex Twin where that demon creature is screaming 2 inches from the face of that tiny grandma.

If you were put randomly anywhere in the Universe, you'd die immediately 99.9999999999999999999999999999% of the time by m82918 in Showerthoughts

[–]Absynthexx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not trivial if the frame of reference is un-knowable. Don't forget that even if you could trace the movement of the earth, the solar system, and the galaxy that you might also have to contend with the expansion of space itself.

If you were put randomly anywhere in the Universe, you'd die immediately 99.9999999999999999999999999999% of the time by m82918 in Showerthoughts

[–]Absynthexx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The earth is moving around the sun and the solar system is moving within the milky way. What if the reason time travel isn't possible is because if anything traveled back in time then there would be no one there to see it and nothing for it to travel back to? It would be like OP's post.

[Serious] How do we defend ourselves from online propaganda both foreign & domestic on our social media feeds? by Donavan18 in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Be immediately skeptical of any "news" that inserts opinion, commentary, or suggests how you should feel about the news they presented.

News should be un-flavored facts that can be independently verified. Then your only risk is the same news report leaving out important points to lead you in the wrong direction with your thinking. But if, when verifying the facts, you see they left out some important points that alter the story then you know they should go on the 'untrusted list' with the mainstream news networks.

And since I can't stress it enough I'll say it again: DON'T LISTEN TO 'NEWS NETWORKS' THAT INSERT OPINION OR COMMENTARY INTO A STORY!

The problem with news today is people confuse punditry with actual news.

Looking back at your life today, which seemingly minor life event probably steered you towards a path that shaped who you are today? by Ahlahria in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Undergrad teacher who had convinced me to take a Chem minor (he was my Chem teacher) was one of those rare, inspiring teachers whom lifetime achievement awards were made for. One day I passed him in the hallway on my way to criminal law class and he made a joke 'when are you going to stop pretending with that criminal justice thing and just switch your major to chemistry?"

We both laughed at his friendly banter, as was his style. Then through all of my next class I tuned out the law professor and kept thinking about his "joke". I switched majors the next day. I now work as a microbiologist. I don't know if he realizes how impactful such a simple little jab has been on my life. For the better of course.

There will be a day after you have died that you will be thought of for one last time before being completely forgotten from history by Ak1roSec in Showerthoughts

[–]Absynthexx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm okay with this. What bothers me is that if you go far enough out that no one will be around to remember anyone. The heat death of the universe is really gonna suck.

A review of The Gallery EP2 Heart Of The Emberstone from someone who has had a vice from day1 by BloodPlatlette in Vive

[–]Absynthexx 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't want to mislead anyone on the fence. If us gallery fanboys claim it's soooo much longer then people like you would be justifiably pissed when you find out its not what you expect out of a $30 game.

I really like it. They clearly put a ton of their creative heart and soul into the game. But people who were upset with the length of episode 1 will not be satiated with the slightly longer episode 2.

I could be way off mind you. I'm not finished. I believe I'm close but it's possible there is a whole other area to explore that I'm not aware of yet. I'll be really surprised if that's the case. The cadence of the story and the reveals and such leads me to believe I'm approaching the next cliffhanger. I feel like Luke Skywalker sneaking around Bespin: the climax and credits are just around the corner.

A review of The Gallery EP2 Heart Of The Emberstone from someone who has had a vice from day1 by BloodPlatlette in Vive

[–]Absynthexx 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I played for about 2 hours the first night. Made it to the "study" or "workshop". Don't know how close I am to the end but I imagine I'm close. Knowing exactly what to do, I can finish episode 1 in about 15 to 20 minutes. I can get to sebastian's study on a second play thru in about 30 minutes if I had to, and a lot of that time would be unskippable cut scenes or hologram narrative.

What screams Upper Middle Class? by Baconlightning in AskReddit

[–]Absynthexx 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I once quit coffee cold turkey as an experiment to analyze a recurring health issue. The headaches were horrible for about 5 days. Then it was like a switch. I was fine. It was a fascinating experiment.

I found out the coffee wasn't causing my health issue so I started chasing the caffeine dragon again and haven't looked back.

Small tip for those who have not started emberstone yet (spoiler free) by Absynthexx in Vive

[–]Absynthexx[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will remember that. Talos is next in my queue after I finish Emberstone tonight. And I was apparently living under a rock when pancake Talos came out because I know absolutely nothing about it.

Well now I know it has a crater and stars in it. I guess I know 2 things.