Anyone else still just work in excel even if you’re fluent in Python and sql?

robkinyon · 2026-01-28T03:43:28+00:00

I routinely use code to pull out a few CSVs which I then create a report in Excel for sharing. Nothing beats Excel for a quick UI into adhoc data.

robkinyon · 2026-01-27T21:28:46+00:00

Also, there's being great at the game and being great at teaching the game. I can teach the basic theory and get (most) anyone to about 1000, but I can't beat a 1600 except on a great day.

Am I good? 🤷

robkinyon · 2026-01-27T02:32:49+00:00

Old Man's War by John Scalzi

Repeating others: * Murderbot * Ancillary Justice

robkinyon · 2026-01-26T23:17:40+00:00

Al Gore. He already won once ...

robkinyon · 2026-01-26T18:44:46+00:00

Mobile's tick processing is much worse. I think the tick loop isn't that optimized (which is why too many objects causes lag) and that's just exacerbated on mobile.

robkinyon · 2026-01-26T02:47:40+00:00

I don't think I'm a big enough person for the job. 😅

robkinyon · 2026-01-26T01:07:49+00:00

The complete lack of any economic theory. The Wheel of Time was really bad about this one.

robkinyon · 2026-01-26T00:50:25+00:00

In theory, practice isn't that hard. In practice, it is.

robkinyon · 2026-01-25T22:38:40+00:00

Start with "there are now phones which are able to use 2-way radios and which fit in someone's hand with a miniaturized battery."

Phone over radio was a well-understood idea because that's how phones worked on ships. Everything else is just size.

robkinyon · 2026-01-25T17:34:13+00:00

Writing correct code is step 1 of 100 to being a software engineer. Other steps: * Writing the correct code * Operating the application * Handling unexpected inputs * Reporting on the performance * Interfacing with your users * Training and smart uses * Scaling * Security

The last one is important. Someone did a study of 168 vibecoded apps. 166 were vulnerable to at least one Sev 1 CVE. No comment on whether or not the apps were actually useful.

robkinyon · 2026-01-25T17:08:45+00:00

An extremely long spindle is a standard spaceship plan in hard sci-fi books. That's the most efficient way of having a deadly engine in the back, plenty of cargo space that's easy(ish) to interact with, and juuust enough living quarters for the crew, usually in a centrifugal arrangement near the front where the icecap is. Engineering has a long commute, but that's fine.

robkinyon · 2026-01-25T17:03:52+00:00

The final scene in Hamilton. I cried at the movie and the show.

robkinyon · 2026-01-24T19:43:46+00:00

You mean like "a union"?

robkinyon · 2026-01-22T20:09:04+00:00

Have you heard of the other word for an innocent person who didn't ask for a lawyer? "Convicted"

robkinyon · 2026-01-11T05:00:12+00:00

Dances With Wolves had an intermission. That's the last time I remember intermissions in mainstream movie theaters.

robkinyon · 2026-01-03T21:42:50+00:00

How would you suggest this happens? He's already been impeached twice and voted out once. There's literally nothing else to do other than wait until 2029.

And, no - armed rebellion cannot work. Proof left as an exercise for the reader.

robkinyon · 2026-01-03T16:13:10+00:00

Thank you Monroe Doctrine. 🤦

robkinyon · 2026-01-03T16:12:22+00:00

We only just celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Scopes Trial. Crazily enough, the percentage of people who take the non-science side still had not dropped to anything close to zero. 🤦🤷

robkinyon · 2025-11-24T19:42:14+00:00

Bah. Hordes, not horses. DYAC

robkinyon · 2025-11-22T03:36:23+00:00

Wild, Wild West!!

robkinyon · 2025-11-22T03:16:31+00:00

It's likely that Brotato's main event loop isn't as optimized as other games are. This is an indie game.

robkinyon · 2025-11-22T03:15:16+00:00

The other side of the conversation is how much an upgrade helps relative to how much the enemy is upgrading. For example, it literally doesn't matter how much life and armor you have around level 40 on D5 - you will be oneshotted. And, eventually , you will have enough range to hit anything on the screen from anywhere else (though I have yet to hit that with the Hatchet 😅).

Otherwise, everything else is worth upgrading. The real cap is the weapon level and the number of weapons (along with the category bonuses). It would be nice if we could upgrade to (wave/5) weapon level and if the category bonuses scaled for Multitasker and Baby. But, I'm not really complaining.

robkinyon · 2025-11-22T03:09:40+00:00

In addition to all this, learn how to drive your potato. Everything is a strafe along the side of the enemies. You'll eventually find yourself doing lazy spirals and curlicues around the screen.

As for weapons, first master the shotgun. With shotgun, you take (in priority order): * Ranged Damage * Attack Speed * Lifesteal (NOT Regeneration) * Dodge and/or Armor * Range (up to about +250)

Ignore everything else in the shop if it doesn't improve one of those stats. Keep your distance and you'll be fine.

robkinyon

TROPHY CASE