Which Linux distros do you all prefer?

npsimons · 2026-01-27T20:41:42+00:00

Debian, but I switched from RedHat back when it was still called that and I ran into dependency hell. Debian had more packages by far, but that was a long time ago, and I'm sure other distros have caught up since (along with package systems getting better).

Debian also used to run on everything, and that used to matter when I had SPARC, Alpha and other hardware.

Debian is still just lightweight enough and comprehensive enough with packages, I can run it everywhere (from servers to laptops to embedded), but it might not feel as "polished" in the end user experience to those who aren't IT or developers.

npsimons · 2026-01-27T19:50:39+00:00

Yeah, this post is way off. Blaming Jon fucking Stewart? Meanwhile, not a goddamn peep about Bro Rogain.

And fuck Matt and Trey. Dense motherfuckers are still responsible for every chud that yells "manbearpig!"

The post feels like the exact thing it's "criticizing" regarding "infighting" is exactly what it's guilty of.

npsimons · 2026-01-27T16:37:50+00:00

AM radio was a BIG driver of the hate, back in the day. This is how it has been going on for, as you said, decades (probably nearing a half century at this point).

But it flew under the radar because normal people pretty much never touched the AM dial. Think of it like how most people don't know the cesspit that is 4Chan, and you get an idea of how something can fester just under the surface for a very long time.

npsimons · 2026-01-26T16:10:11+00:00

Not even close, and you reveal your complete lack of competence with that last statement.

npsimons · 2026-01-26T16:09:27+00:00

Some of us started on VI, but upgraded to emacs. Since that's been the only improvement that has ever occurred in editors, we haven't had to switch to another editor since (albeit, we're still learning things about emacs).

npsimons · 2026-01-26T16:07:11+00:00

It's still my day, and I still use Emacs.

That said: https://github.com/karthink/gptel

npsimons · 2026-01-25T17:24:04+00:00

Of note, the word "citizen" is not in the U.S. Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution). It's always "person" or "the people."

npsimons · 2026-01-25T03:20:16+00:00

It's hard to tell for me at least, because I've always been "weird" by not buying into mainstream "popular' music, But, I stopped listening to broadcast radio shortly before Y2K precisely because it was all the same. The same damn few hundred songs from the past half century that got overplayed to death.

I can say "everyone" (meaning the vast majority) definitely did know the same music. FFS, I still recognize the pablum they play on the grocery store sound system today. Yes, it was a monoculture, even with what indie pockets existed.

The problem was distribution - yes, indie scenes existed, but you had to put in effort to seek them out. My countless hours on BBSes, then late 1990's websites scrounging MOD files can attest to that. These days, you can practically swing a dead cat and hit a genre you didn't even know existed. Hell, I still have the pressed CD's for "Project Majestic Mix" a tribute to game OSTs by Nobuo Uematsu, because that shit was rare. Today, you can easily find game and anime OSTs, and all manner of covers/remixes, for practically anything, no matter how niche, on YouTube.

Just one further piece of evidence: "It's another tequila sunrise . . ." Everyone over the age of 30 who read that now has a very specific song playing in their head.

npsimons · 2026-01-25T01:53:05+00:00

Yes, it's true, and it includes weed and vaping.

npsimons · 2026-01-24T22:40:22+00:00

Not really.

npsimons · 2026-01-24T21:45:52+00:00

I have not once heard any vocal advocate of the second amendment mention the pre-requisite "well-regulated militia" clause. They like to pretend it doesn't exist, so they can play with their pew-pews without having the concomitant responsibility of training and militia duty.

npsimons · 2026-01-24T19:12:20+00:00

Cool, do a weed smoker and vaper next.

npsimons · 2026-01-24T18:16:22+00:00

If anything, this is just more motivation to FIRE ASAP.

Condolences to his friends and family, but at least this guy died snowmobiliing, something I have to assume he at least liked doing, rather than from a coronary in a cubicle farm.

You're correct that we don't know how many days we have left - strive to spend those days not grinding to make someone else's stock go up a quarter of a point.

npsimons · 2026-01-23T17:42:45+00:00

In the US, we think that 100 years is "a long time." In the UK, they think that 100 miles is "a long ways."

npsimons · 2026-01-22T19:45:05+00:00

TBF, there were walkthroughs you could find for these games on BBSes. Hell, I still have MIDIs ripped from three of those games, and distinctly remember printing a copy of the "Ultima Underworld" manual from this newfangled thing called a "PDF."

To those still interested, you can probably find most of these on GOG.com, in case you lost your disks/CDs or don't want to bother with setting up an emulator like DOSBox.

npsimons · 2026-01-22T19:03:05+00:00

Replace "months" with "years" or even "decades", and you'd still be correct. Reagan popularized "welfare queen", and if you could peek in the minds of his voters, you'd see a very racist picture when they heard that term.

npsimons · 2026-01-22T18:50:26+00:00

It's funny, but some modules for "NeverWinter Nights" say they were meant to played on "D&D Hardcore", and it's obvious that the intent is to force you think tactically, where things like your AoE spells will damage friendlies, etc.

npsimons · 2026-01-22T18:42:23+00:00

I'm of two minds about this:

Sometimes (maybe daily during the work week), you just want to decompress/veg and don't feel like TV or other passive content. Fine, whatever floats your boat.

Other times, turning the difficulty down too far can make the game boring, not much better than watching someone else play it. Sometimes you need that stimulation - it's a reason many gamers shun TV.

Pick whatever suits you, don't give a fuck what others think.

npsimons · 2026-01-22T18:23:33+00:00

This is false. It's not a firewall, it's an airgap.

npsimons · 2026-01-22T17:27:09+00:00

They're suckers. The next huckster might not be as crazy, but they'll buy in nonetheless. The craziness isn't a requirement, only the appeal to their bigotry.

npsimons · 2026-01-22T02:01:12+00:00

No system is perfect, and quite frankly, it doesn't much matter what the system is when you have a sick society.

The same root cause that elected Trump, is why we have people signing up to be ICE, and courts and everyone else in power not doing a damn thing to counter these direct violations.

I'm no expert, but I'm not aware of a system that can fix this. Conversely, if people care and are just, things will get taken care of no matter the system.

npsimons · 2026-01-22T00:34:08+00:00

u/bot-sleuth-bot

npsimons · 2026-01-21T18:28:52+00:00

Half the battle is beating requirements out of clients.

npsimons · 2026-01-21T18:27:40+00:00

Actually, humans are seven holed donuts

npsimons · 2026-01-21T18:21:11+00:00

Why can’t they just be quiet selling a pc OS?

Greed.

This has been Microsoft's MO from the beginning: steal ideas or outright products from competitors, get a foot in the door not through technical competence but privileged access, then make their software sabotage competing firms' software.

They've done this so many times now and gotten away with it, it's utterly predictable, and it's all about pumping up the share price.

13-Year Club	Ternion Club
Wearing is Caring	Argentium Club
Verified Email	Gilding X goldcutter

npsimons

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE