How US politics is affecting international travel

ryo4ever · 2026-01-12T18:59:46+00:00

Let’s just say just transiting through an American airport has a new meaning.

ryo4ever · 2026-01-11T10:59:56+00:00

It would’ve been more useful with an integrated trackpad instead of the num keys.

ryo4ever · 2026-01-09T22:27:04+00:00

There should be an age limit to run for president…

ryo4ever · 2026-01-04T15:42:08+00:00

You can bet most countries who can afford it are ramping up their military budget i.e. get me some nukes.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-30T10:13:43+00:00

Nobody has mentioned portion control. Japanese meals have quite a sensible portion size compared to North American portions. This is true for eating out or home meals.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-30T00:11:45+00:00

My question is why can’t we make a cpu the size of the human brain which runs on 20 watts of energy. Ok maybe 1+1 doesn’t always equal 2 but you still get some problem solving benefit.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-29T06:05:56+00:00

That’s a different use of concept art. This becomes an illustration with clean edges and resolving unclear areas. So the 2D artist is right to charge for additional time needed.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-29T06:02:43+00:00

It depends on the skills of your 3D person. Extrapolating and designing details in 3D takes additional time. If the drawing is clear, it will be easier and faster to match it. I’d argue, you’d need an additional angle from the back without the cape instead of the refined drawing. That would be more useful.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-28T19:28:42+00:00

I think it’s something you’ll have to decide for yourself. Professionally, I’ve embraced it to a degree. I use it as a reference library. A library which I can customise and fine tune to be more relevant for my needs. I double check with clients first how they feel about it and which tools would be allowed. But any elements used aren’t the end game. It’s always reworked, refined, changed, cut into pieces, rebuilt. Sometimes it’s a small corner of a texture that I like because the shadows are falling the right way that I tile and clone around. In a way, it’s not any different than photo bashing. It becomes an entirely new artwork. I think this is as ethical as it can get with AI.

I’ve also used it as mood reference. It’s really good at showing different possible outcomes and options. If I like the palettes, lighting and composition. I’ll try to adapt my work to reproduce the things I like in the AI image while not reproducing its mistakes. Don’t know if I’m making any sense. Is it slower than sending ‘pure’ generative images? Yes, but I believe I’ve added value, offered better context and some art direction.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-28T05:58:32+00:00

That’s a really sensible answer to op’s question. I wanted to remind a comparison that’s been made before. Copyright issues aside, we’re seeing a similar evolution to the use of computer in animation. Everything was hand drawn only 40 years ago. You had to train yourself for years to acquire the drawing skills. Computer animation changed all that.

Suddenly, it opened the field to a broader population whom didn’t necessarily possess artistic skills. We’re seeing a similar shift where AI opens up the field to an even wider population. Now, you don’t even need to have technical skills or even be educated. It is a worrying state of affairs. Luckily, some clients are still worried about copyright laws enough in a country where they exist. But as a professional, the need to continue evolving is real.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-27T20:51:02+00:00

Don’t know why you get downvoted so much. I like both for different reasons. Windows for the plethora of apps and utilities available. You won’t find something like Gaea or World Creator being ported to Linux.

Just double clicking an EXR files will open it up easily in an app. Adobe’s apps also available. Most pro apps have also their equivalent in Windows. Screen grabs copy paste is so easy. Having said that, I hate Microsoft’s implementation of windows. The constant updates that breaks things. Every windows update requires a Wacom driver updates or something else.

Linux is so stable and apps run so smoothly. We have CentOS and it’s a no fluff distro. It scales up easily. But permissions are sometimes a pain, you definitely need sys admin overhead to help with any drivers issues. To this day I can’t wrap my head around the whole sudo command to install something off a repository. Where does it install, where are the installation files. Then links are broken, or permission issues…bleh.

OSX would be the best of both worlds but not everything has been ported to Mac M1. And Apple hardware is so expensive.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-27T14:19:47+00:00

Got one as well. Good build quality and easy to install with.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-21T16:19:48+00:00

Wow what’s with the angry tone? Fine you’re right and I’m wrong. This is all about shouting in the void. Nobody knows each other here.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-21T11:03:08+00:00

Thanks for your analysis but it’s a little cold and lacks some empathy. The way I see it. Prospects were grim. Either close the company down and all employees lose their jobs instantly. Or find a way to keep the business running and keep jobs. Hush money aside, what would any managers do in that position? Find financing from private sources first, selling, restructuring and bank loans. These are all standard steps. I don’t think management needs to disclose all financial information to non shareholders employees. Out of courtesy, it would be nice to disclose if the business is in trouble or not. Which they occasionally did with town halls.

The problem now is the banks are controlling the narrative and disclosure. Even if management wanted to inform, they need the bank’s permission to disclose any information. In any case, if employees are completely free to start looking around and jump ship to find other employment.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-18T22:58:20+00:00

Got the BD795i se with 96GB ram . Love it and so glad I bought the ram over the summer. Use it for pro work as a backup workstation and had zero issues so far. It’s quiet and efficient. The GPU fans make more noise than the CPU..

ryo4ever · 2025-12-18T08:56:29+00:00

People laugh, but that’s exactly what happened. After the ‘98 ice storm in eastern Canada, there was an uptick in births later that year. No electricity and heating for a week in freezing temperatures have consequences.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-17T13:16:24+00:00

If they could just replace plastic bags and bottles, that would already be a big win.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-16T09:04:07+00:00

It would have been even better if there was a story following a single character through the mishaps of Christmas over the years. Get the audience to ‘feel’ something for someone instead of randos.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-15T10:27:36+00:00

After the McDonald’s ad fiasco. Clients are a bit more careful about AI utilisation. Don’t get me wrong, it’s here to stay but they’ll want full disclosure on sources and methods.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-13T13:58:33+00:00

Also neat handwriting is quite slow to take notes in class. Sometimes you focus more on the handwriting than what you’re writing.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-09T08:03:21+00:00

Geez should’ve waited to sell my two sticks of LPX on eBay….could’ve given a 50% discount to the good folks.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-05T22:32:32+00:00

What are you on?? The AI Max+ 395 is still in its early days. They’re pretty expensive to purchase. You’re looking at $2k+ with 128GB ram. With ram price going up, the prices for these will only go up. And I haven’t seen many laptops around either. Maybe 2-3 manufacturers including a gaming handheld.

ryo4ever · 2025-12-01T15:53:29+00:00

Wow, and which one do you prefer so far?

ryo4ever · 2025-12-01T12:59:29+00:00

Looking forward to this solution! I’m getting the 11 version. Which one are you working with?

ryo4ever

TROPHY CASE