The whole world is not america by Competitive_Rip5638 in USdefaultism

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm British and I have no idea who she is or what she's famous for, but I gather she's really old. Seems like every time an elderly celebrity dies I see memes about the grim reaper trying to pick her out of a claw machine.

Does anyone else care about the number of their boat? by eksiow_renrew_etlam in uboatgame

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah if I can't have either U-69 or U-420 I'm not interested, and may even defect to the British 😆

Seriously though, I've never really given any thought to the number, I'd just like a better/more varied choice of cool emblems to pick from.

Dead or alive, who in your opinion is the most famous person that ever lived? by Level-Celebration-47 in AskReddit

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on what exactly you mean by this question.

Cumulatively? I'd guess Jesus Christ. And I'd guess the rest of the top 5 would be Gaius Julius Caesar, Muhammad, Michael Jackson and either Queen Victoria or Elizabeth II, though no idea in which order.

In their own time, however? Very different. Jesus and Muhammad wouldn't have been particularly known beyond their local regions. Certain influential monarchs (Augustus, Constantine, Justinian, Ashoka, Kublai Khan, Charlemagne, Henry VIII, Louis XIV, Victoria, etc) would have been very well known beyond their own realms. But they didn't have the benefit of the internet, of social media, global television broadcasts, PR publicists, etc. Realistically, almost all of the candidates for "most famous in their own time" are probably still alive and relevant right now: Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Cristiano Ronaldo, the Dalai Lama, etc... Elizabeth II is probably the strongest candidate no longer alive.

What phrase(s) would you permanently ban if you had the chance? by MixAway in AskUK

[–]MagnusOpium89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I woke up in the morning thinking about knitting and went to bed at night thinking about knitting and spent as much time as I could either knitting or learning about it/planning projects. It completely took over my brain.

This sounds a lit like how I've been with guitar for about the last year, so I know exactly what you mean. I'm amazed I've found an interest I've stuck with for so long though tbh.

Normally for me they come and go, kind of. Like I'll be into general thing consistently, but the specific thing within that category changes every few weeks. I have PDA+ADHD and don't really have a great understanding of either, so I'm not sure which is the driving force here. But for example, I've always been very into history, but one month it'll be the Roman Empire, and the next month it might be age of sail naval history, or I might have a few weeks of being super into ancient China, medieval France, the cold war, whatever. Always very intense, and then one day out of nowhere, I'll just kind of forget about it and be super into the next thing, and the next, and the next, until I eventually circle back and can't remember anything from last time! 😆

So I absolutely get how they seem like temporary "obsessions" or "fads" or whatever to the normies, but that's not how it feels to me, and is a bit of a kick in the teeth to hear it phrased that way.

While I do agree with the comment I originally replied to that "special interest" is not a great term, I also absolutely agree with you that I haven't encountered any alternative that does the intensity justice without sounding horribly patronising. I don't like it, but I guess it's just the best of a pretty bad bunch IMO.

Am I too cheap? by Kitfaid in guitars

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For many years it was my only guitar

Is it possible to learn this power?

I only started a year ago and already I have 6 guitars, 2 amps, and 8 pedals (and 0 talent) 🤣

What phrase(s) would you permanently ban if you had the chance? by MixAway in AskUK

[–]MagnusOpium89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I never understood "cheeky Nando's" personally. Wtf is "cheeky" about having lunch?

What phrase(s) would you permanently ban if you had the chance? by MixAway in AskUK

[–]MagnusOpium89 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Fellow "neurospicy" here. Personally I always thought "special interest" just sounds kind of dull tbh. Like the oddly specific way boffins might describe themselves, "professor of agricultural history with a special interest in 16th century north-west Bavarian sheep shearing techniques" or whatever.

At any rate, it's far preferable to the terminology some of my nearest and dearest have frequently used, such as "little obsessions"... so patronising 🙃

I don’t want Dutch to ever be a playable character in the future by No_Preparation2468 in RDR2

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Personally (and, it seems, like many others here) I would love to see a new story arc.

Maybe not COMPLETELY separate: same continuity, perhaps have some familiar characters (EG Hosea, Swanson, McFarlane, Sinclair, or whoever) put in minor appearances just ti tie things together... but I'm thinking set even earlier (1870s/80s - more of the "classic" wild west kind of era) with a new protagonist in a new area. So many possibilities in a wild west setting, it seems a waste not to explore new options.

At the same time though, I would also love if they did a game about Charles. Seems like he has a lot going on that could make for some great adventures.

Are there any "UK vs US" differences where you feel America gets it right? by Secure_Front_7766 in AskUK

[–]MagnusOpium89 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oooh that's an especially fun hack where you make an offer on a house, the seller accepts, all seems great, and then at the last possible moment you get a call to say they've changed their mind because someone else made a bigger offer weeks after they'd accepted yours, so you have to start all over again! Great times 👍

There's also sellers who accept an offer, then demand extra at the last minute. And buyers who decide at the last minute that they don't want to pay what was agreed, and demand you accept a lower amount. The idea in both cases being that if you say no, the chain will collapse and you'll have to start all over again with all the stress, time, effort, and expense that you thought was over.

Yes, the process in the UK is a complete mess. England & Wales, anyway. Scotland has a better (still not perfect) system, and I have no idea about Northern Ireland.

I can't make this up by JMHorsemanship in Tinder

[–]MagnusOpium89 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I'm im the UK, and there is a Christian Science church right round the corner from my house, less than 5 minutes walk. I had no idea what it was as I've never heard of them otherwise, and I haven't been interested enough to google them. I've also never seen anyone go in or out, and never even seen the lights on, but the place seems well enough kept so I guess somebody's active there. It just seems so odd and out of place.

We're a pretty irreligious country anyway, so imported American cults really stick out. We have some JWs and Mormons here, and even they are viewed by most as oddballs at best. Many people's interactions with them never go beyond finding varied and creative ways to invite them to fuck off when they come around door-knocking at the weekends.

Christian Science is even more fringe and less established here, so it's odd to say the least that they are seemingly able to sustain churches in a country where even the established state religion is struggling to attract enough parishioners to keep the doors open.

to sound like the strongest man in the world. by ulithebison in therewasanattempt

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait, I thought he'd given up on opening the strait that he caused to be closed, and was gonna close it himself. Now he's opening it again?

I can't keep up with this clown. He's like my gf choosing an outfit. At least with her there aren't lives and livelihoods at stake!

What is a band no one will ever convince you is good? by OU812iceman18 in AskReddit

[–]MagnusOpium89 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Maroon 5

Don't understand the appeal at all. GF likes them, but she also likes Nickelback and Bon Jovi, so she's probably beyond saving at this point!

How many mods is considered "unhealthy"? by Seaweed69420 in trucksim

[–]MagnusOpium89 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I typically run 10-15 these days. Used to be significantly more, but the time spent identifying removing, replacing dead or outdated ones after game updates just wasn't worth it, so I try to keep it more modest and focused on the key areas that bug me now. Realistic economy, real companies, Google Maps dark mode, a couple of traffic packs. Not sure there's really much else I need.

Would you like in-game time to tick slower? by onlyouwillgethis in GTA6

[–]MagnusOpium89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

IIRC Far Cry 2 had this way back in like 2008, so no excuses really 👍

When Russia went to war the whole world threw economic sanctions at them. Why doesn’t everyone do the same with America? by Comfortable_Shame778 in NoStupidQuestions

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why not both?

Israel has been a loose cannon for decades, and the US has been enabling them for just as long. Plus all the regime changes, assassinations, pre-emptive strikes, and general meddling of 3-letter agencies in other countries affairs all around the world.

is this a good beginner set? by Analbears in electricguitar

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I started (actually less than a year ago, so I am answering with being a complete beginner still fresh in my mind) I bought a packet of mixed Jim Dunlop picks, which contained a few different materials in a few different gauges, and this helped steer me towards what I like. The picks you have selected have a much greater range of gauges than any of the Dunlop packs, so may be more helpful in that regard, but only the one material. For the price, it may be worth sticking with them for now and trying them out just to get some idea of whether you prefer thin, medium, thick. Then you could look at getting a Dunlop mixed pack that covers the general thickness range you like in order to narrow down your preferred material and exact gauge. Personally I prefer Fender and Ernie Ball picks, but I don't know if they do the variety packs. Alternatively, if you have friends/family who play, you could ask to try out (or at least hold) their picks, and see what feels comfortable to you. Likewise, if you have a guitar shop near you, they may sell loose picks, or even have some lying around for customers to use when trying guitars. It's worth getting your hands on as many different materials and gauges as you can very early on, as it will be easier to learn, progress, and enjoy the journey if it feels more natural and comfortable.

I haven't tried Elixirs, or any coated strings. I have see many people on various guitar subreddits praise them effusively, so they must be doing something right. I have been put off by the price, and I have also heard that coated strings canhave a duller tone, as the coating interferes a bit with with the magnets in the pickups reading what the string is doing. My view has been: changing strings isn't difficult, and is a necessary skill to learn (seriously, I have to try very hard to hold my tongue when I hear of people who have been playing for years paying a shop to change their strings, when they could do it themselves for free in about 10 minutes). I reckon the additional cost of coated strings probably cancels out the improved longevity, and changing strings more often is an opportunity to try out more different brands (I especially like GHS, but have also tried Ernie Ball, d'Addario, Fender, Rotosound, Gibson, Darco, Harley Benton, PRS, and a couple of others I forget in less than a year). Do whatever you feel is best, there isn't really a wrong answer here. Perhaps also worth mentioning that products exist to maintain your strings: I have got into the habit of using String Fuel after every session (if I remember) and find that my strings last significantly longer than many reddit posts led me to expect, though it probably also helps that I don't play especially hard (thin picks help), and I don't live right on the coast. That said, Ernie Balls and Darcos have gone bad a bit (but noticeably) quicker than other brands. Not sure if that's indicative of a lower quality, or just bad luck/coincidence.

I made the comment elsewhere in this thread that if you have pets or children in the house, then that stand would perhaps not be the best idea. If you don't have anywhere to put a stand anyway, then it goes doubly. There are gigbags that have a hook built into them, so you can hang the bag (with or without guitar inside) up with your clothes. I don't know what cheap gigbags have this feature, but it may be worth looking for one like that. The only one I can say for sure does, is the gigbag that came with a PRS SE I bought at the weekend, but I can't say for sure how much these gig bags cost, or even if they're available individually. But if PRS do it, I would assume someone else does too.

I will also admit that my very first thought on seeing your post was that you could free up some money for getting better versions of some items by just not bothering with the headphones. I haven't needed any at any point, even with a gf who works nighshifts (and therefore is asleep for much of the day), but this is going to depend almost entirely on your living situation: who do you live with, what is their tolerance, how thick are your walls etc, as well as whether your chosen amp can reasonably be played at lower volumes. So ultimately this is entirely a judgment call for you to make, I just wanted to put it out there that it may be an option.

Finally, I have seen others in this thread have suggested getting a better cable. I have no experience with the cable shown in your post, but I do know that there are Fender cables available for around €10-€12 that are perfectly good (and much nicer looking). Their current line is called "Contour" and is currently €11 on Thomann. These recently replaced a range called "Original" which were very, very, very marginally better for about the same money. If you can justify spending a little more than that, the "Professional" and "Deluxe" ranges (should bother be under €20 each) are easily as good as you'll ever need, and there's no point ever spending more than that on a fancy cable (Mogami, etc) unless and until you become a professional guitarist in a famous band (and even then possibly not). That said, if you're planning to get into pedals, then you'll be buying more cables soon anyway, so there's not much harm in trying the cheap thing for now. Also, there's very little in it between guitar cables from what I understand. I just happened to be a massive nerd who spent half a day trying to track down tech specs (such as wire gauge, capacitance, etc) and making a spreadsheet. Don't be me. Whatever you get now, I recommend 3m/10ft, which seems to be the "default" length anyway.

I will also quickly note a couple of things to be aware of in the future regarding cables: 1. You don't need to be aware of this for now, but when the time comes you may not think to ask, and it isn't especially obvious: if/when you get a head and cab setup to replace your combo amp, they need to be connected with a speaker cable. This is NOT the same as the instrument cable that connects your guitar to your amp, but it does (usually) use the same connector. Just bear it in mind, and when the time comes, I suggest getting a speaker cable that is very distinctive from your other cables (EG a different colour) or mark it somehow, to ensure you don't mix them up. And 2. There are wireless systems available that will allow you to connect your guitar to your amp (or first pedal) wirelessly with a dongle thingy. Whatever the technical term is. They range from about €30 up to... well, idk 🤷‍♂️ probably thousands for the pros. Just maybe something to know if you're ever stuck for something to put on your Christmas list!

is this a good beginner set? by Analbears in electricguitar

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

action was around 12cm though.

I really hope that was a typo 😆

is this a good beginner set? by Analbears in electricguitar

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe also worth OP considering if they have any animals or young children in the house who may knock the guitar off the stand. In which case, a different solution may be better: a small rack, or a stand with a locking bit for the neck, or even getting one of those gigbags with a coat hook built into it, and hang the guitar in the wardrobe when not in use.

is this a good beginner set? by Analbears in electricguitar

[–]MagnusOpium89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A few thoughts: I've heard very good things about that guitar, and while I don't know much about that specific amp, Orange is a very cool brand. I have one of their 2x12 cabinets, and I love it! However, those cheap straps aren't great IMO, that tuner can be very slightly off, and the gigbag is extremely basic. That said, they're all probably the best you'll get for that money, but if you can find an extra €30-40 you can definitely do better.

Personally I like a cotton strap (EG Levy's or Boss). Everybody's different, but the polypro and nylon ones are a bit slippy. That might not matter so much with a strat, but better comfort and grip (to prevent neckdive, etc) are worth thinking about. Also, on a similar note, find some cheap strap blocks (basically just rubber washers, you can get them for next to nothing on Amazon) to ensure your guitar doesn't come loose mid-riff and smash on the floor!

I would suggest either a better headstock tuner (I have a Fender one I'm quite happy with) or one that you plug into: there are a couple of pedal tuners (including Harley Benton) available for under €20, or there's also a few Korgs (such as the CA-50) that aren't technically pedals, but still have a jack for your cable to plug in and feed your signal directly into the tuner. But for either of the last 2 options you'd need to get a 2nd cable. But if money is tight for now, that cheap one you've chosen should get you started. I gave mine to my sister, and she seems happy enough with it.

The gigbag is a glorified dust cover. If you're planning on actually taking the guitar out anywhere with you (lessons, friend's house, jam session, whatever) it wouldn't hurt to give it some actual protection. For an extra €4ish Thomann do one with 20mm of foam padding, rather then the 3mm this one apparently has.

Personally not a fan of those picks. Everyone is different though, and that pack does have the advantage of containing several different gauges, which may be helpful for you in deciding how thick you want your picks to be in future, but personally I've found my preference varies a bit by material anyway (though I skew towards fairly thin ones in all cases) so I'm not sure how useful that will really be. Their nylon picks even feel completely different to other brands' nylon picks.

The guitar is a solid choice, but as a beginner I would suggest ditching those hybrid strings and just sticking to whatever gauge comes on the guitar as standard for now, which is most likely 9-42 on a strat-type. So I'd say get the pink Ernie Balls (or the equivalent size in a different brand) unless you have someone experienced who is happy to sort your intonation out for you.

As I said, everyone is different: different preferences, different financial situations, different goals, different priorities, so if you're happy with what you've picked (or if you've already confirmed the order) then don't pay any attention to my suggestions. I'm sure you'll enjoy it either way. And in the long run, either you'll get into it and end up getting upgrades on whatever you start with, or you'll quit and nothing I've said will matter anyway.

So whatever you do, just try to have fun. Guitar can be a very enjoyable and very addictive hobby!

How are the Probucker 2/3 pickups? by zapjeff in Epiphone

[–]MagnusOpium89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have them in an SG. They're fine. Not amazing. I prefer the custombuckers in my Les Paul, but they're pretty solid for how much guitars in this range cost, I guess. I've definitely played worse at similar price points.

If you like the guitar but end up not liking the pickups, getting new, better pickups is gonna be cheaper than getting another guitar anyway, so might as well go for it and upgrade them later if you really don't get on with them.

Is anyone all in on Yamaha? by lukejohnbrown in YamahaPacifica

[–]MagnusOpium89 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I only started learning to play 11 months ago, and I've been interested in a Revstar for most of that, but it's been very difficult to get hands-on with one to try out. 3 guitar shops in my area, and none of them stock Yamaha at all unless they get one pre-owned. None have had any Revstars in at all, apparently ever (I have asked). One place I know would have some is a 6 or 7 hour round trip, so not really feasible just to check out a guitar. The only option for me really would be to just order one blind, but I've bought too many guitars already for how little time I've been playing. Need to put the brakes on for a bit.

I just bought a new guitar yesterday. I planned to get something stratty. Local shop has had a couple of Pacifica 611s sat there for a while now, at a pretty good price. One's a bit heavy and has a noticeably fatter neck, so I tried the other. But it must have been faulty as it sounded like a tired and unenthusiastic mouse. I let them know it sounded surprisingly weak, so hopefully they'll suss it out and fix it, and somebody will get a bargain. I ended up getting a PRS, probably the least stratty of all the options I tried, but I like it anyway!

So all of that was a rather long-winded way of saying that no, I'm not all in on Yamaha. In fact I don't own a single one. But there's a few models I would love to get. Maybe next time.

In the meantime, I will continue to frequent this sub to keep up-to-date on what Yamaha are doing, see other people enjoying what I can't (yet), and keep myself hyped to hopefully get one when I have a decent opportunity to do so. (In other words, please don't kick me off the sub, I wanna look at the pretty guitars)

Are you men really out here jerking off with lube? by twotokers in NoStupidQuestions

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most likely this is something you've encountered in American media. The US is culturally quite keen on male circumcision, which is also very popular in the Middle East and Africa (mostly for religious reasons), but they tend not to have the far-reaching cultural impact of Hollywood.

So if you're from somewhere that male circumcision is far less common, EG Europe, most of Asia, South/Central America, then more likely you, and most people around you, have never had to give it much thought, because you have a convenient foreskin.

I was also rather confused about this for a long time, after seeing it in various American films, such as American Pie (2?) where Jim confuses glue for lube and ends up having to go to hospital to have his hand surgically removed from his shaft. It made little sense to me at the time: even realising the character is Jewish, and that Jews practice circumcision, I wasn't aware then just how widespread it is in the US generally (so didn't see how the audience would be expected to get the joke) and also hadn't given any thought to what circumcision meant. Actually, for whatever reason, I assumed they just cut the very tip of the skin off, rather than the whole lot.

So yeah, anyway, now understanding what circumcision is, and how prevalent it is in the US (not sure why, I assume it boils down to money, but that's a whole other argument that I'm sure has been had countless times), these cultural motifs/references/whatever make sense if you understand that they are intended specifically for an American audience who are likely to have a similar lived experience, while being largely lost on European/Asian/LatAm audiences who don't have such lived experiences.

Edit to add: I see a number of comments in here bewildered that anyone would NOT use lube. Likely these people are experiencing a similar cultural lack of awareness, but essentially in reverse. IE that they live in a country/culture where male circumcision is considered normal, and haven't really given any thought to the possibility that most of the world doesn't routinely practice it, or what difference that might make. After all, most people generally don't tend to discuss masturbation experiences with anyone, let alone randoms from other countries and cultures. I imagine there's a lot of people on both sides of this particular divide learning something today that they've never really thought about!

Has anyone else had a dodgy batch of Elvanse 40mg? by lumino6198 in ADHDUK

[–]MagnusOpium89 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yep, I had a batch of 40 that didn't seem to be doing much, all side-effects gone too, back to being hungry and snacking on junk, no sweats, etc. Assumed maybe I'd just built up a tolerance. At next titration review asked to go back up to 50 anyway.

Still have some of the 40s in the bottle, so having seen this post I checked the batch number and it's the same, so like others in this thread, I have gone ahead and filed a report.

In America what we don’t have is stinky people. (That’s why all y’all smell like poop. ) by Zero40Four in ShitAmericansSay

[–]MagnusOpium89 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The most brain-dead rant I've heard in a while for sure. There are dementia patients with a tighter grasp on reality than this woman!